Great Grape Or Second Banana

I’ve been invited to speak at a church in Boulder, Colorado this weekend. The topic is Rich’s Ride and how it relates to people with special needs in the church.

I’ll write a bit more about my actual message tomorrow. Today I simply want to express my gratitude.

This picture shows perhaps the most difficult hill we encountered on the entire ride. It’s at the very southeastern tip of Iowa in the town of Keokuk, and it was one of the few times I was unsure whether I’d reach the top without assistance.

I cranked up that hill by myself. But I never would have reached the bottom without a great deal of help, support, and encouragement.

It would have been so easy for folks to push me into a corner and ignore me. People at school didn’t have to provide the technology that allowed me to teach and mentor young teachers for twenty-four years. People at church didn’t have to make the building accessible or provide ministry opportunities. There were easier, cheaper, more convenient alternatives.

I’m grateful for people who took seriously the biblical principle to focus on ability rather than disability.

Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body…The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable … 1 Corinthians 12:15-16, 21-22

According to the RPV (Rich Paraphrased Version), a grape can spend its life struggling to be a banana, but it’ll always be a second-rate banana. The grape would do better to devote its energy to being the best possible grape. I’m grateful for those who’ve supported me in my effort to use my unique gifts.

I’m not sure I’m a great grape, but I’m glad I get to try. But I’m grateful that people don’t insist on making me into a second-rate banana.

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