The Day Evie's Homework Blew My Mind.

 

A few weeks ago Evie was listening to a podcast for a night class she is taking at the University. The podcast was a discussion about the 30th anniversary of the ADA (American's with Disabilities Act). In the discussion, Alice Wong, a disability activist, reflects on the fact that the LAW can only give us the "standard" but it doesn't REALLY change ANYTHING if people don't follow it. 

Not only that, but if people just MEET the law, but go no further than what is recommended or required as the "bare minimum" to following the law, then we still don't see a truly inclusive day to day experience for people living with disabilities. After all, there's no ADA police...so the only way we know when the law is broken is when someone goes to the trouble of filing a lawsuit, and is that really how we want to go through life? 

For example, when Evie and I walk around the University, for example, there is often only ONE accessible entrance, and it's often the back of the building, through a remote parking ramp, or next to a dumpster. Huh...is that equal access? Does that feel truly inclusive if you, as a person perhaps in a wheelchair, can't use the same door all your friends do? 

Alice Wong then made a statement that resonated to my core, "ACCESSIBILITY IS LOVE." 

I sucked in my breath and got teary eyed and said to Evie, "THAT IS THE GOSPEL!" 

Evie said, "What?" 

Accessibility is LOVE! 

In the Old Testament we had "The Law." The Law that God gave us showed us the standard, showed us the WAY to righteousness...but it couldn't MAKE us righteous...it could only show us HOW to be righteous. And guess what? NO ONE can uphold the standard of the Law except God. So how can we ever have ACCESS to Him if we are always falling short? 

Then came Jesus...and He gave us COMPLETE ACCESS to God through his sacrifice on the cross. He DID uphold the Law, and He DID meet the standard and then He took on our punishment for EVERY SINGLE way in which we fall short. He stands as our full access High Priest before God to attest that we are worthy and in a right relationship with Him. 

So, our HEART condition, our LOVE is the true path to accessibility. We can advocate, we can legislate...but that only goes to changing the LAW, it doesn't create a HEART change in people. What our world needs is Jesus. Our world needs His UNFAILING LOVE. Our world needs His Full Access Pass so that we can be in right standing with our Holy, Righteous God. 

Why? If He's so loving, why doesn't He just forgive us WITHOUT Jesus's death and resurrection? 

Because what is JUST about that? What would be JUST about all of our sins going UNACCOUNTED for and just giving out all access passes to all of us? That wouldn't be what we want! Heaven would be HELL! There MUST be penalties for all broken laws or there is NO JUSTICE. I want to see people pay for their sins...but then that means I MUST PAY for MY sins. 

Unless Jesus pays for them. 

And He has...He already has, for all of us! But we need to accept that and turn to Him and say, "I can't do the rest of this without you, Jesus! Thank you for paying for my sins...come into my life and strengthen me through your Holy Spirit to live and walk with YOU through the rest of my life...I want FULL ACCESS to what You are offering! I will no longer be a slave to my sin, I will be a bondservant of the Living God, the one who paid my ransom." 

Accessibility is Love. And God showed that love for the whole world when He sent His one and only Son, that Whoever will believe in HIM will not perish, but have LIFE ETERNAL.... full access forever and ever. 

The Tears of Silent Sparrow

 

Evie and her instructor on the corner of a busy street.

Today we had tears...lots of tears during our orientation and mobility lesson. 

Evie's been using a cane since she was 3 years old. But that doesn't mean she "relied" on the cane, and that doesn't mean that she used it to independently navigate busy or dangerous terrain. 

Now that we are looking at her starting college however, the game plan has changed and we need to change with it. 

And it's scary.

And it HARD.

Nobody likes to see Evie cry...it's heartbreaking...it's like seeing a baby bird who is injured. 

But tears are necessary because they reflect her realization that she can't fake her way through a lesson on her own positive attitude. No, sometimes it takes hard work, mind-bending work, gut-wrenching work. 

On the corner of one of our busiest neighborhood streets we saw her reach her breaking point today. The realization that life isn't safe. The realization that cars, speed, and distractions can equal injury and harm. The realization that there are no promises and there aren't really any shortcuts to true independence. 

It's terrifying as a parent of a child with disabilities to hear people speak so lightly of crosswalks, speed limits and handicap parking spots as if they shouldn't have to be bothered with these inconveniences because they are slowing them down or moving them further away from where they would like to be. 

All we are looking for is a way to keep our loved ones safe! 

Ultimately, though, I come back to one solution. My only solution. 

The government cannot save us.

The money cannot save us.

The rules cannot save us.

The Law cannot save us. 

Only God can save us. 

If I look anywhere else for solace, safety or salvation, I will be disappointed. 

You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Psalm 139:5 

Hem her in, Lord. Hem in her in. Keep her safe in this crazy, broken world. Lay your hand upon her.