Personal Reflection on Disability

Blog 102


Disability is another component of my interests. "Google" again and you find the term listed 55,700.000 times. That term brings me to my second interest, or both are of the same genre, personal caring. The commonality is found not only in how the disabled are perceived by the public, or what agency or authority has responsibility. The topic for me in this blog takes on a very personal light because I experienced it.
Again we find many institutions, organizations, and programs whose primary purposes are to aid these persons. They make sure we have ramps, for an example.
Yet disability, like mental illness, is too broad a term and dealt with by such rules and designations that many fall between the cracks. What is said and done according to the appropriate “billboard” awareness effort in publications and other media do not reach Jim and Sue within your block or neighborhood, whether we are talking mental illness or some other form of disability.
This second interest came home to me when I spent years on disability, experienced remission, and now labeled as disabled again. The social security check nor the church disability check the first time around did not diminish such things as feeling not needed any more, lonely, isolated, that is being ”Filed and Forgotten.” My own Pension agency sent the check and then knowing so little about the type of disability, sent me brochures about all kinds of world travel opportunities. Obviously an editor in Chicago who knew nothing about a disabled minister in Terre Haute. A neighbor did much better by sharing her vacation magazines and telling me in detail what it was like to visit Aruba. That kind of talk about travel didn't
"hurt" but helped to pass the time in a pleasant way.
Again like in Dad’s story, I looked around and realized I was not alone; others suffered, hurt, felt lost, too. From these personal situations I gathered them together in my thoughts for this blog and want to share some things about caring and compassion for the ”Filed and Forgotten;” however those limitations may affect the individual. As times passes here we will learn more about the specifics of these stories when applied. They mean the same to any left out and hurting, being passed by on the other side of the street or tracks by the those well in body, mind, spirit, and with physical resources to share, church people passing by.
This writing is meant to be a dialogue, interactive, participatory experience. First of all, I speak from the heart, not research and statistics, and desire that you think from the heart so that together we get a better glimpse of how we can help the shelved, the lost, the stressed, and the hopeless. The government passed the Disability Act, and yes, supported by our church agencies, but a neighbor down the street immediately sensed the thresholds in my house needed adjustments so I could go from room to room in my wheelchair. We have no bailout monies but such that we personally can do will serve many with just the shot in the arm that is needed. They will know that they count even when they find themselves out of the mainstream for whatever reason. Maybe for the first time in a long time, or maybe the first time ever, they experienced the caring heart and hands of another human being.
This is not a self-help book, nor manual on what to do if you are down, or even a lot of specifics related to individual cases of need. Agencies of various kinds produce such manuals but in many, most of our neighborhoods, the hurting never see them. In fact, most never heard of the Global Board of Global Ministries. Help where is needed in individual cases is not there unless you are speaking of feeding the multitudes in Africa, which certainly is part of our calling. Yet doing what you can, the best you can, as a caring person, right where you are, is a part of Christ's ministry or goodwill from any person of any religion.
Doing what I am doing right now seems to work for me as a person with limitations. However all the “forgotten” don’t have this way out, maybe not even having electricity, let alone a computer. Libraries, as well as our church and governmental agencies can fill our personal library shelves if we can get to the library or have monies to purchase books, or eyesight to read them. Let’s not ignore any advice from anywhere, but let’s put our heads together and see how we as intelligent and resourceful people can make a difference in someone’s life that feels “Filed and Forgotten.” If we professionals feel that we already understand all about this destructive feeling, we need to keep our minds, our hearts, and our doors open. Again it is about US who may find OURSELVES filed away in some cabinet drawer and treated as forgotten any day now so forethought isn’t too bad an idea. Without that look within ourselves, we won't care about anyone else.
Write me and share your thoughts and ideas with me and with other readers as we proceed. I will not be blogging very day but hopefully will be able to read your comments or questions each day and respond as I am able given my own physical limitations or pharmaceutical ones from changes in medication. It was neither of those that caused a delay in this second blog, but a laptop that needed a new hard drive, and the understanding yet technical touches of a generous Baptist friend. He worked overtime so “Filed and Forgotten” might move one. He didn’t close at 4 p.m. because he was needed and could help. That turned out to be one of those unexpected times when I felt like this blog was going to be “Filed and Forgotten”, for technical reasons but a caring person came to the rescue, even saving my blog notes. That is what we are to do for each other and especially for those in more dire need whom we encounter.
Sometimes a little break from the routine lets us rethink what it was we were trying to do. There’s the old traditional joke, if indeed it really is one, that a good sermon should have three points. To my embarrassment I had forgotten one here! In these blogs however, trying to keep it short, it is just as well that we don’t follow the old tradition. As we open this discussion, however, it is important for you to have an over view and I have only suggested two points now in an introductory way. The third will come next as we start the discussion of how the delivery of health/illness is a chief cause of coming down with that virus of feeling ”Filed and Forgotten.” You will see again how one person, the right person, in the right mood will bring joy to a patient. Do not be surprised if there are not more than three.