C4L Internship: Radically Inclusive (Day Two).

For a very long time I have had a special love for those affected by disabilities of many kinds, and I am incredibly blessed to work as an aide to the therapists who change the lives of the disabled every single day. From autistic children to amputees, disability is the norm where I work, and throughout my short year of employment at the hospital, my appreciation and love for these patients have grown incredibly. But is this enough?

This internship has taught me more than a lifetime in any physical/occupational therapy setting ever could. It has taught me the spiritual and emotional struggles associated with disabilities. I have learned that those affected by disability don't necessarily want people in their lives who are paid to be there, but want true, genuine friendships and love just as anyone would. I've been made aware that of the 18 "wounds" associated with disability, only two of them are actually related the disability itself while the remaining 16 involve heart-breaking responses from society such as lack of acceptance, exploitation, segregation, and abuse/neglect.

If I've learned anything today it's that our God is radically inclusive. It doesn't seem to matter whether we've deliberately disobeyed Him, suffered addiction, or have been deemed social outcasts; He pursues us with a radical, inclusive, incomprehensible kind of love that can only come from our Father in Heaven. We, every single follower of Christ, are called to love as lavishly and dangerously as He.

But... it's easy to get lost in the day-to-day routine of life, isn't it? I am absolutely guilty of saying "Okay, I work full time and I'm going to school. A ten minute devotional is simply all I have time for." By making this excuse, I have subconsciously put God's will for my life on the back burner and have made work and school my number one priority. Instead, I should be on my knees daily praying "Father, I ask that YOUR will would be done in my life despite my hectic schedule. I pray that you would use me as your hands and feet as you see fit, and that you would make the time for service and place opportunities in my path for me to love those in need."

It's completely impossible for me to condense all of the wonderful things I've learned about God's heart into one blog post, but my prayer is that the few who took time to read this would be encouraged in some small way. I pray that God would use the following posts about my trip to awaken you from spiritual slumber and that you would seek to know the heart of God and that He would open your eyes to His will for your life. 

"But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind, and you will be blessed." - Luke 14:13

"When Jesus came to earth, in addition to dying on the cross for sin, his mission was to repair the effects of the curse and fulfill what the law commanded. He revealed what wisdom prescribed and the prophets had predicted for persons with disabilities. As he commissioned agents, we continue the work he began. Yet, many are surprised to discover that part of God's plan for people with disabilities was to not only glorify Jesus, but also minister to others not just in their disabilities, but because of them." - Dr. David Deuel.

"The single greatest need of the Christian Church is to understand that Christianity is not just a relationship with Jesus. But it's a way of seeing all reality... I am convinced that the biggest single weakness of the Church is that we have a reductionist view of Christianity- it's just me and Jesus. We think we're in good shape. Jesus is taking care of me, and I've got a great relationship with Jesus. That's an abomination." - Mr. Colson.

Blessings,
Bailey