Not DISabilities But POSabilites

So often we see people with DISabilities as ‘not able to.’  Instead I see them with POSabilites. As a mother of two wonderful young men, I'm continually amazed at their courage, resilience, and fortitude.  You see they don't 'see' - they're blind.  They face each day not as an obstacle but an opportunity.  With one away at college and the other still in High School, I find myself continually humbled by their ability to adapt in each situation. They are driven to succeed and have the persistence and problem solving skills to overcome any and all challenges. They are my heroes. 

  

In October of every year, Americans are asked to recognize the special contributions and rights of persons with disabilities. The official name is “National Disability Employment Awareness Month.” Coinciding with this important national observance is White Cane Safety Day and Blind Americans Equality Day  on Monday, October 15th.

In 1963, the National Federation of the Blind called upon the governors of the fifty states to issue proclamations designating October 15 of each year White Cane Safety Day. In 1964, Congress passed a joint resolution, making this a national observance and, explaining that the purpose of the resolution was to “make our people more fully aware of the meaning of the white cane and the need for motorists to exercise special care,” President Johnson signed the official proclamation. In his words, “The white cane in our society has become one of the symbols of a blind person’s ability to come and go on his own.”  

Use of the white cane as both a tool and a symbol for those with seriously impaired vision has evolved over time. Some credit James Biggs of Bristol with first conceiving the idea of white canes in 1921 when he wanted to make himself more visible to motorists after losing his sight in an accident. The widespread promotion and general acceptance of white cane use for blind pedestrians has been attributed to Lions Clubs International, whose Peoria chapter president, George A. Bonham, saw a blind man struggling to cross a street using a barely-visible black cane.

White canes for use by blind people differ in style and purpose. The “Long” cane, also known as the “Hoover” cane, was designed primarily as a mobility tool to detect objects in the path of a user. “Identification” or “symbol” canes are often lighter and shorter, and are not useful for mobility. “Support” canes are designed primarily to offer physical stability as well as identification, but have limited use as mobility devices. There are “kiddie” canes for children, and “folding” canes. Some of these canes have red tips for added visibility, but a white cane (whether or not it has a red tip) is understood to indicate blindness. Probably the most intriguing new cane innovation is the “Stichting I-cane.” This device, still being developed, has built-in GPS-navigation and surface-scanning features.

Along with the cane, technology has assisted America's Blind in taking advantage of employment opportunities that in the past might have been inaccessible.  My own sons use computers that speak everything on the screen to them.  They have hand held devices that tell them what color their shirt and pants are so they can dress themselves 'appropriately'.  They have Iphones that talk to them and GPS devices to help them navigate. They use braille and many other electronic tools to help them be completely independent. The use of their White canes has been life-saving, literally.

I hope that you now have an open mind to understand that someone with DISabilities is not necessarily someone who is 'not able to', but someone with loads of POSabilities.

Keeping 'In Tune' With God

(This is something I wrote two years ago...but for some reason didn't post it...so here it is...)

This week I had to opportunity to get our vehicles inspected in order to get our new license plates. You know the routine…wait in line for 2 hours to find out you forget one document. So frustrating. But, it got me thinking (while I was waiting) about inspections and how it applies to our spiritual lives.

I realized that my van has its own computer system that allows it to inspect itself constantly. You know that annoying "Check engine" light. If my van needs its own system to inspect itself, I bet God has a fool proof plan on how I should inspect myself.

So I got on my computer when I got home and looked. Sure enough…through out the Bible, God reminds us to inspect ourselves. Paul talks about it in 2 Corinthians 13:5a (NIV) - Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Everyone needs to take the time, on a regular basis to examine areas of their lives.

The best way to do this is with the Word of God, within the confines of community. In other words, we need one another to keep us honest with ourselves. Just as my car not only needs its own internal computer to examine itself, it needs an independent authority – a mechanic. Our independent authority is the combination of God’s Word and Community or each other.

When’s the last time you allowed yourself to be examined? When’s the last time you allowed others to truthfully speak into your life? Don’t wait until your ‘check engine’ or ‘check your prayer life’ light comes on. I hope you’ll take time in the next week or two to examine yourself and maybe even allow someone else to speak some truth to you. It’s God’s plan to keep us ‘in tune’ with Him.

Places Where Grace Is

I am continually amazed at the human spirit. In light of the most recent discovery of a child that had been held captive for 18 years, it's amazing to me what the human spirit will endure. We live in a broken, messed up world. We all endure a measure of the brokenness of this world. Unfortunately some must endure more that others. In fact, some endure more than most can even begin to imagine. Yet, beyond the odds...we endure and move on with life.

Or do we? I remember when my kids were small and we traveled on a plane for vacation. We travelled with tons of baggage. Thankfully then the airlines didn't charge for each and every item. You know all the items I'm speaking of: two or three suitcases, car seat, portable crib, and a backpack full of favorite toys, snacks, Benadryl, etc. If you've ever traveled with kids you know exactly what I mean. It's overwhelming at times how much stuff you have to take with you when traveling with small children. You almost need a vacation after your vacation, so that you can rest from carrying so much baggage.

I think we all tend to travel along in life like that - enduring. We carry so much baggage around. You know the baggage I'm speaking of: choices that lead to guilt and shame, cruel words that were spoken, lonely aches, vows that were broken, wasted years of addictions, Love that was never given or received, unfulfilled dreams. We live in a broken world but travel through it with all our baggage. Yes, the human spirit it very resilient...but it's also very broken. And it's in those moments of brokenness, when we're exhausted from carrying all of our baggage that God comes in with his grace. It's his grace that helps us through the brokenness of this world.

Are you tired of all your baggage? Is your heart tired of carrying all of it? Is it time to unpack those bags stop the rat race of life for a better way of life? Life breaks and falls apart, but this is exactly the places where God's grace is. Place all the brokenness of your life at Christ's feet and you'll find wholeness and healing. He takes all your baggage and replaces it with his love, acceptance and grace. He will redeem all that you see as loss, all the hurts you have, or all those lost years due to life controlling habits. Just watch and see what He can do with all of it. It will be AMAZING. You never know the miracle that God has in store for you as you walk with him and allow him to show you his grace in your broken places. You'll find your spirit soar and fly stronger than ever.