There are times when it is easy to despair at the state of the world. But, just sometimes, something comes along that can blow us away – and we can see God working in amongst all the mess and sorrow, in the beauty of the humanity that He created.
Awe-inspiring music
I’m not a big TV watcher and, when we do watch, it is frequently on catch up. This week we caught up on The Piano, which aired on Channel 4. It could be annoying when the otherwise good judges – world famous pianist Lang Lang, and popstar Mika – whispered and commented during the performances, but there were some lovely and thoroughly enjoyable pieces of music.
What truly blew the judges, and the audience, away was the outstanding rendition of Chopin’s Nocturne in B flat minor by Lucy, a 13-year girl with learning disabilities, autism, very limited speech – and who is completely blind. Do watch it, if you haven’t already seen the series – and I dare you not to cry at the beauty of her performance!
She went on to perform, as part of the series, Debussy’s Arabesque no.1 at the Festival Hall, in front of a huge crowd – to a standing ovation.
Enabling culture
Whatever the backwards steps that our culture is taking, I take heart from the Christian ethics that have influenced the care for the most disabled in our society. It’s far from perfect, but Christians have been influential in promoting the care of the vulnerable for many centuries.
Christians have been influential in promoting the care of the vulnerable for many centuries.
I say this as a mother of a child with Down Syndrome, who is also partially sighted. I know that care is not consistent across the board, and others have found challenges both in the system, and in churches. But Emily has known nothing but excellent care.
At birth, when she nearly died, she was given all the care she needed to survive. Loved by church and wider family, we got much support when we needed it, including by social services. Our daughter was embraced and loved by her local primary school, where she thrived throughout her younger years. She got a place at an excellent special needs school for her later schooling, which she loves to attend every day. And she has had good medical care whenever she has needed it.
But what I believe really brings God’s kingdom on earth, in this respect, is not only the care, but when opportunities are opened up for the most disabled in society not just to access things, but to really contribute to and bless society.
This is what we see in Lucy. Despite her huge challenges in life, she can create beautiful music, which brings her a way of expressing herself, and touches those around her – which now includes a large TV-watching audience. Her story is not just her own, but of all those around her who enabled her to flourish. The love of her mother, the life-saving health care she received, and the amazingly skilled and patient piano teacher, funded by the Amber Trust, which seeks to give musical opportunities to the blind. God blessed Lucy with her musical gift, but those around her nurtured and enabled it to grow – opening out her world.
Serving is for all
Lucy has an outstanding talent which, now nurtured, is blessing many.
Not all disabled people have such outstanding gifting. Yet, for most, they can still play their own part in society.
Last October, our little Baptist church took the youth group on a mission trip – all the way to Romania. Links have been fostered over many years with the Smiles Foundation, which works there to alleviate poverty, and bring the good news of Jesus through its projects, from elderly care and food parcel delivery to holiday camps.
As part of that youth group, Emily also got the opportunity to go and serve some of the poorest in Romania. She got involved in delivering food parcels, sharing in the fun with the disability club, and serving in the enterprise project that helps to fund much of the work there. Her practical skills leave something to be desired – I understand that, when she was helping to repaint a room in need of redecoration at one of the elderly care centres, her fellow-volunteers got ‘painted’ every bit as much as the walls!
Dignity is most prominent when we enable others to bring their own blessing to society.
But she was able to bring what she offers so well – joy. Emily performed dances with her usual enthusiasm to entertain residents, and inspired people with her infectious smile and eagerness. As the founder of the Smiles Foundation in Romania shared: “Most noticeable for me, and probably what made the greatest impression, was Emily’s constant smile. … Emily was always smiling, and (was) therefore a most wonderful addition to the team in Romania who endeavour to put ‘smiles on faces’ of those who would appear to have less to smile about. Emily demonstrated that whatever might appear to justify less smiles did not apply to her.” Another leader commented that “she did a fantastic job of keeping us happy and laughing with songs and jokes”.
That couldn’t have happened without the little team at our youth group who have welcomed Emily with open arms, and included her in every way, even rising to the challenge of taking her abroad to help her serve in her own unique way.
Kingdom living
Kingdom living is about shalom – wholeness. It is bringing that shalom to those about us. We need each other, but we also need to be able to contribute to the blessing of each other – and that includes those with special needs. Christians have historically played a huge role in enabling the disabled to live with dignity. But dignity is most prominent when we enable others to bring their own blessing to society.
In amongst the challenges and suffering of life, the opportunities are there to transform the lives of others. Opportunities that enable people to fulfil their God-given potential, to bring out the beauty that God put within. We may not all have the talent of Lucy, or the incredible skills of her piano teacher. But we can all play a part in bringing that aspect of the Kingdom of heaven to earth, by looking out for those who still have their potential to fulfil, and to help them fulfil it.
