Celebrating Freedom

With freedom did Christ set us free: stand fast therefore, and do not be entangled again in a yoke of bondage.  Galatians 5:1

Celebrating Freedom is indeed at the center of life. This is not true merely as citizens, but as people - as ourselves. We are free in Christ. We are free in God’s love. We are free!

This is just as true for those with disabilities as it is for everyone else. Celebrating life in God’s love keeps us, sustains us and calls us to enjoy life with others.

This doesn’t just mean seeing those with disabilities at the fireworks display or the public park. This means that we share in our friendships and close relationships with people that are often ignored, dismissed or even excluded.

Those with physical disabilities, intellectual disabilities and those with mental health issues are fully able to celebrate life; they too have the freedom promised and provided by our loving God.

Freedom is a gift we can cherish and share, or a gift we can neglect and deny. We have the freedom to choose. This is true for those with disabilities as well. They have the freedom to choose to be friends with others, or to not like someone, just as we all do. Yet their choices are often so limited that some never have the opportunity to establish real friendships outside of the care-giving environment.

We have the ability to change that and it only takes awareness and the willingness to respond to that realization. It is up to us to initiate, encourage, foster, and relish relationships with those with disabilities.

For more information feel free to contact us at Bridge Disability Ministries, through our website or in person. We'd love to hear from you.

Please, let us join in celebrating freedom for all people!

The Joy of Serving

One of the benefits of my job at Bridge is that I meet some of the most giving individuals I've ever seen here. Within the past few months, for example, I've seen not one but three volunteers come out to help at our events while enduring treatment for cancer. Ever seen a 70something woman straight out of the hospital leaning on a walker while orchestrating an event for a huge roomful of people down to the last detail? I have. It has been mind-blowing to see her and others like her worrying about things like serving a tasty, hot meal to the folks we serve while undergoing such harrowing experiences as chemo, radiation and surgery.  I've also seen volunteers struggling with serious chronic disease conditions such as Parkinson's and lung disease continue to work in our Mobility Center, providing reconditioned equipment like wheelchairs to those in need. And this is just in the past few months, mind you. I could tell you of many, many more instances if I reached back further. Simply amazing.

Since being involved with Bridge I've found it's actually not as uncommon as I'd once thought for people to make great personal sacrifices for others. I see it a lot here. I see parents of people living with developmental disabilities sacrificing nearly everything to try to provide well for their beloved family members, and even reaching out to help others in the same boat. I see volunteers who have their own health and other life challenges giving their limited time and energy to others. I see donors who have little to live on themselves giving whatever they can spare to those less fortunate. I see churches who are experiencing budget challenges in this difficult economy still continue to open their fellowship halls and provide meals to those we serve. And I see Bridge staff, who have also been impacted by budget cuts, still continue to give a good deal more of their time than we can afford to pay them for. I've even seen someone who has endured a lifetime of major health issues, who requires the help of a wheelchair to get around, and who cannot even feed herself, do fundraising to support Bridge programs for people living with all kinds of disabilities.  Not content to merely receive from others, she wants to give as well. Simply amazing.

I'm also a witness that these selfless servants drive home that old adage, "It is better to give than to receive." Now who was it who said that? Oh, that's right! It was Jesus Christ! Jesus Christ, who by his very life demonstrated the truth of that statement. The selfless servants I have met through Bridge have all learned this truth - and they live it - and they give joyfully. We who observe them learn about the joy of giving to others by their example. That's right, I said the JOY of giving. Because that's the real reason people give of themselves the way they do. They've discovered the secret  -  it brings them joy. It might seem counter-intuitive at first, but it is true. Giving to others does bring joy. Why? Because we were built that way. It's one of the clever ways God blessed us humans.  Simply amazing.

So - try it! You'll be hooked in no time. Instead of just going to the coffee shop for another latte, or going out to eat at a restaurant one more time, or shopping for yet another pair of shoes you'll hardly ever wear, or getting a new car this year even though last year's model runs just fine  -  or whatever transient material desire it is -  why not try adding something new and different? Try touching the life of someone who is blessed by your smile, your touch, your attention, your goodwill, your support. You'll agree, I'm sure. Simply amazing.

"In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” - Acts 20:35 NIV

Here................ We Are!

What is it that catches us in this moment?

Right here and right now I have meaning at this time, because I am here. Being here it seems may very well be everything.

I attended a wonderful dinner last night here in Bellevue at a local church known as Highland Covenant Church. We gathered together and there were many folks that were different from everyone else. This is always the case, but in this instance the differences were obvious in physical nature, verbal ability, and spiritual openness, too.

We ate a simple meal made lovingly and shared for everyone in this caring environment. Still, what struck me most was the caring people that all sat at each table with open hearts and open spirits. Yes, they had open mouths and forks full of food, but there was something more in our midst than just a great meal and an entertaining evening.

Just being there. Just being willing to be there together.  Seeing each other as we are with our uniqueness is what we do.  Listening to each other in this context is more than enough:  it is everything! 

I had to leave a family gathering in Kirkland to attend this evening's celebration.  I had a difficult time pulling myself away from my family who had gathered to hear about the incredible mission trip of my niece as she used her skills as a nurse going and working in Haiti recently.

I have to admit I went to our Sunday Evening Celebration reluctantly and a bit grudgingly, that is of course until I got there.  When we see each other's hearts and spirits there is a special kind of family connection going on.  It isn't because we were born here to these people, but because we were born here to God's people.

This was an amazing time as I sat with various people and shared the grace of God as we met in this place!

Listening to someone who can't speak is incredible. Seeing someone with a smile that is shared just because you are there is great. Just being there, WOW that is absolutely what it is all about.

I was so glad that I was THERE!!!

Amazing!

Blessings!

Dave

Singing in a Snowstorm

We've had a long, cold, stormy winter in the Pacific Northwest this year. We've all been grumbling about it. We're tired of the cold. We miss the sun. We don't like being stuck inside. But winter also brings snowstorms. And marvelous things can happen in a snowstorm.

As we prepared for a recent winter Celebration, I was not at all surprised to hear from a guest's mother that she would not be able to attend after all. Disappointing because she had offered to play piano for us when a musician cancelled, but not a surprise. First, this is a young lady who lives with autism, which in itself often presents challenges. Add to that the fact that a snowstorm was dumping on us, and two metro buses were stranded on the hill next to the church where we were scheduled to gather. Traffic was mayhem with people slipping and sliding and colliding everywhere. Thick snow whirled in the air, blinding people who were trying to get from place to place. As we prepared for the gathering, we really weren't sure anyone would come.

But guess what...she came anyway. Yep, that's right. She wanted to play piano for us so badly that she convinced her mother to drive from a distant city through a snowstorm to the church. What's more, I found out later that the heater in their car wasn't even working. So there was ample reason not to expect her arrival, yet arrive she did, and promptly filled the Fellowship Hall with a joyful sampling of classical music as folks trickled in and sat down to enjoy a hot meal. We tried to get her to stop playing long enough to eat, but she said she could eat later. Instead she provided accompaniment so those of us who fought our way through the storm could all sing together. She performed with energy, passion and enthusiasm, a big smile lighting up her face, the blizzard outside and all other troubles forgotten. Amazing.

But that's the way it is with our events. People really, truly do need and appreciate those times of fellowship. So much so that we often see them go to great lengths to get there. I can easily think of many instances of folks going to what many of us would consider superhuman lengths to get to our gatherings.

As another example, one of our regular program attendees has to have a caregiver take her to a Park and Ride lot on the boundary with King county to get to our Sunday events since accessible transportation is not provided where she lives on Sundays. She's an elderly lady whose body will often not do what she wants due to physical disability. What's more she requires the assistance of a wheelchair to get around. What's more she is blind. Yet despite her vulnerability, she strikes out across two counties on her own, changing transport in a cold, lonely, noisy concrete Park and Ride lot, traveling many miles strapped in a wheelchair, jolting down the roads in a van that's hardly plush, with people she does not know and cannot even see...to attend our gatherings. Amazing.

As a part of my work at Bridge, I often see people take risks most folks would shrink from, travel long distances, endure long waits patiently, bear discomfort and pain stoically - all so they can participate in community and spiritual life. Yes, I think it is safe to say this is important to them.

And if you doubt it, ask yourself: What would it take to bring YOU out in a snowstorm? How much would YOU endure? These folks inspire me. I feel that they give me so much more than I could ever give them in return. They have taught me to sing in a snowstorm.

"...so that I may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed."
          - Romans 15:32

Hard Times

Well, folks, it's clear we've fallen on hard times. We've experiencing an economic crisis, people are out of work, people's homes are being repossessed, some people have even ended up on the street hungry. There's no doubt about it, the headlines are screaming trouble every day.

Here in the State of Washington we are having a budget crisis. And the Governor's office has informed us that things are going to get harder yet for the people we serve. In fact, some of the people I work with personally through Bridge programs have been informed they may be losing crucial sources of funding for housing. That's right. Some of the developmentally disabled adults we serve may end up out on the street begging for food and looking for a cardboard box to sleep in.

One man in particular who attends many of our events comes to mind. I'll call him Jim. He is in his early 40's. He is cognitively impaired. If you didn't know him, you could not tell that he is developmentally disabled immediately. However, since I have seen his records and worked with him, I am very much aware of his limitations.

Put simply, Jim does not know how to take care of himself. He would never be able to find and hold a job, find and apply for an apartment, shop and prepare meals, clean and do laundry, pay rent and bills on time, etc. He simply does not have the skills or abilities needed to carry out these complex tasks. He requires a good deal of help to negotiate the simple tasks that are required of him now. When he gets very frustrated he is inclined to explosive bouts of temper which other people find quite intimidating and do not know how to handle unless they've had special training.

Jim does not have family who can help him. Those of us who know him know with certainty that he would end up homeless in short order if he loses the benefits that pay for his housing and caregivers. And we are horrified that this course of action is even being considered by the State government. After asking questions I discovered that the reason this could happen to Jim is because the State rates him to be high functioning compared to other developmentally disabled adults that receive services. They are looking to make cuts, and they're thinking of starting by cutting services to the higher functioning folks. I can tell you right now, this is an idea that is doomed to failure.

Whether a person is higher functioning or not is immaterial. What matters is what they can and can't do. Jim can walk, he can talk, he can put his own clothes on, with proper preparation he can even ride a metro bus - sure! But does that mean he can negotiate the complexities of our modern world and take care of his own basic needs? I can promise you he cannot.

No, we don't want a candy tax, or an income tax, or higher fees. Of course, we don't. But I'll tell you what, friends, we don't want folks like Jim living in a cardboard box on the street either. So we all need to go back to the drawing board and figure something else out. Just take that idea off the table. That's not who we are. We're better than that.

The vulnerable and defenseless need us, and we can't turn our backs on them. We must remember that we are all weak and in need of assistance at times in our lives. Any one of us could end up in the same position Jim is, with people deciding whether or not we're worth helping. So let's not even go there. Of course, he is important enough to help. He is a part of us, a part of our human family. Weakness does not change that for any of us.

And as the Apostle Paul said:

"In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”  Acts 20:35

Episodes of Transcendence

Nobody loves everything about their job. Every job has its annoyances, and my job is no exception. For one thing, there's all that darned paperwork. (Does anyone really like paperwork?) But there are benefits with this job - what I think of as 'Episodes of Transcendence'. When working with people who live with disabilities, it never fails that there will be a moment every now and then when you are guaranteed to experience pure joy.

Many examples come to mind. Like the expression on a man's face when I told him he could get a special motorized wheelchair that would take the painful pressure off his spine completely free of cost. The giddy look of excitement on a bride's face as she walked down the hall of the church toward her fiance's side to be wed by our Chaplain at one of our events. The sheer happiness in the voice of one of our Guardianship clients when he excitedly told me over and over that my son liked him simply because he'd walked over to him and said hi and shook his hand. The radiant smile of the mother of an adult son with traumatic brain injury as she expressed gratitude for the improvement in her son's spirits since they had discovered Bridge.

These moments of transcendence happen when people feel that someone cares, when they feel special, when they feel they belong. These are feelings we all desire, whether we are currently living with a disability or not. We all want to feel valued in the eyes of others. When you give someone who can't walk a wheelchair, when you give a lonely person a community that cares about them, when you look after someone who is alone in the world without family to take care of them - you are simply saying "You matter." 

Anytime a volunteer serves in whatever way they are able, or a church opens its doors in welcome, or a donor gives financial support, they are all saying to people who live with disabilities -  "You belong."  And that's a very powerful thing. I can tell you from firsthand experience - the joyful response is infectious, and its one bug I don't mind being infected with at all. So I'll keep doing the annoying paperwork, because the bennies are just too good to give up. I'm staying tuned for the next episode.

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 

       - I Corinthians 12:27

Caring & Hurting

She looked so exhausted. Her haggard face told the story of her long journey as a parent of a child living with a developmental disability and the suffering that goes with it. Her body bowed under the weight of all those years of exertion. She told me of her daughter, now in her 50's, born with mental retardation. It was a tale of love and pain, caring and hurting - a lifetime of supporting a child with the mind of a toddler, who grew up unable to navigate the complex world in which we all live without 24/7 assistance.

She was obviously beyond frustrated, defeated by a system seemingly designed to confound her every attempt to arrange for proper care for her daughter. Housing, caregivers, health care - in all these areas and more her daughter kept falling through the cracks. She had done everything she could; long years of working nights and caring for her daughter days. When there was no local day school for special needs kids, she and her husband helped create one. When she lost her husband to cancer, she kept soldiering on alone. When her child was abused she did what she could to protect her. She liquefied her assets and bought a home for her. Now she was having problems getting competent, caring caregivers for what she could afford to pay. But due to property values dropping she didn't have the flexibility to sell her home or her daughter's condo. With dwindling resources, and looming challenges - she was stuck.

She was looking into the future and seeing that her time was running out. She was feeling panicky at the prospect of leaving her vulnerable daughter in the world alone - unable to fend for herself. She was looking for answers and finding there were none. At least, none that were acceptable to her as a loving parent. All she wanted was to feel secure in the knowledge that her daughter would be safe and well cared for after she was gone. But she was starting to think this was a dream that had no hope of coming true.

I asked her about the faith communities in her area, did she attend church? Did she have the support of a faith community? She told me she had no use for churches. She believes in the Lord, but she listens to preachers on the radio. I asked her why, and she told me she couldn't take her daughter to church because she was too loud and restless. She also told me that she called all the churches in the valley where she lives when her daughter was injured and could not walk. Her daughter was an adult at that point, big and heavy. She had injured herself moving her around alone. She needed help. She reached out to the local churches in desperation, but she said they did not help.

As a Christian, it made me sad to hear about her experience. But as the mother of an autistic child, I'm sorry to say - I was not surprised. She's hardly the first parent to have such experiences, and unfortunately she won't be the last. I've heard many a similar tale. In our superficial world, a person with special needs is often treated as an unsightly thing to be hidden away. We live in a world devoted to perfection, and even we Christians can get caught up in worldly values. But Jesus Christ had a different concept of perfection than what we usually see valued in the world.

In Matthew 19:21 Jesus said, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”   

And in James 1:27 we were told, "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world."

No guilt, but that IS what the Bible tells us. So what could I do to help this woman? Can I solve all her problems? Can I single-handedly change the world she and her daughter live in? No. Of course not. But one thing I can do is not turn away. One thing I can do is listen. One thing I can do is empathize. One thing I can do is share their story. One thing you can do is read their story. One thing we can all do is pray for them and others like them. One thing we can all do is ask the Lord to guide us and show us how to help folks like them.