Beyond Suffering

Yesterday I signed up for a certification course, Beyond Suffering, provided by Joni and Friends International Disability Center.  A number of my friends have taken this course and I have wanted to for several years.  Since my life never slows down, now is as good a time as any.  I am looking forward to the challenge!

Here is a brief description of the course provided by Joni and Friends,

Have you ever suffered physically, emotionally or spiritually and wondered why? Do you have family members or friends with disabilities and struggle to know what to say or how to act around them? People with disabilities are considered one of the world's largest under-represented groups. The church is largely unprepared for the burgeoning disabled population. One of the primary goals of the Beyond Suffering Course is to address this issue by preparing leaders in ministry, education, medicine and science to become involved in this life-changing ministry.

If you are interested in this online course, you can register at www.joniandfriends.org.  Everything from Joni and Friends is high quality and will be a blessing to your life and ministry.    I hope to see you in class :)

How We View Intelligence

I have been reading the book, Brain Rules, by John Medina.  It has both educated and challenged me. I can now feel good about that 20 minute nap I take each day.  It is a great way to rest and refuel your brain.  

I am challenged by the suggestion that we need to walk 20-30 minutes everyday to get the blood flowing to the brain.  According to Medina, this practice can reduce your chances of dementia/Alzheimers by 60%.  

Medina also challenges how we view intelligence.  As a society we all like to measure and put a label on intelligence but Medina shares about some individuals that challenge our thinking.  Kim Peek was born in 1951 and a variety of diagnoses and challenges to face in life.  He was labeled mentally disabled and doctors suggested he be put in a mental institution.  Thankfully, his father saw the gifts in Kim.  

     He could read two pages at the same time, one with each eye, comprehending and remembering perfectly everything contained in the pages. Forever.

Most of us are actually familiar with this young man.  He is Rain Man.  And once again, we need to throw away the boxes we put people in.

The Body of Christ

Today I had the precious gift of visiting the church I grew up in.  I loved being home!  It was great to see so many people that invested in my life and my faith journey in particular.  I am forever grateful!

I was greeted with wonderful embrace from the lady that held my heart so many times in my teen years.  She gave me grace and the confidence to trust in God. All she had to do was look at me, wink, nod her head, and I knew she believed I could do whatever I needed to do.

I was served communion by her husband who shared the gospel with me and also got me through those awkward teen years.  When he served me communion he looked at me, smiled, and said it was his pleasure to serve me.  It brought tears to my eyes.

Later we shared hours of memories together, along with my brother, husband, and sister-in-law.  I could have talked for several more days.  It is hard to catch up on 35 years in an afternoon.

The other blessing today was catching up with a friend of the family that is now 86.  I asked about her daughter who was blessed with Down Syndrome.  I loved what she shared with me.  She told me what a blessing her daughter is to her and now that she is struggling with memory loss, her daughter has become her memory.  They work together to support each other.  

That is what it is about folks.  As the body of Christ we support each other in our abilities and our disabilities.  Whatever we may be struggling with, our brother or sister in Christ can fill in the gap.   We all need each other.  We truly do.