Where have I been?
Search me! Well... I seem to be somewhat caught up in getting my ducks in a row for future retirement.
There are more ducks to line up when a disabled child - now an adult - has to be figured into the equation.
Barring information that opens additional opportunities, Son the Elder will spend much of his adult life with Bethesda Lutheran Communities. They are an organization with a good reputation for care of folks with developmental disabilities - care of body and soul.
That said, I remain concerned that his Lutheran faith be nurtured in doctrine and practice when his home is not at my address. Many, even at Bethesda, are of the mistaken impression that an emotional response is proof that something good is happening. If he is laughing and flapping his arms that might be construed as evidence that he is "getting something" from his "worship" experience.
Now if Son the Younger is laughing and flapping his arms we call that mischief, and it will result in a small slap to the back of the head (Gibbs-ing, we call it). Why the difference? I would argue that it isn't different.
Happy Clappy is not good for the soul! The Western Mass is not lost on the developmentally disabled. If these persons are wiggly and impatient, carry on. God's Word is at work in the speaking, in the hearing. God's Word causes growth as the Holy Spirit is in and with it.
If Son the Elder is laughing and flapping that is not evidece of getting something out of it -- it's evidence of excitability and is not conducive to learning or growing. It means he is distracted. That may be good if I'm trying to eat a snack that he shouldn't have, not so good if growing in faith is the goal.
Now that puts me in a quandary. I will have to live near him to have influence on where and how he worships.
When I retire, a move is likely. A move to a locality where Son the Elder can have a home and we can live nearby. Perhaps a local congregation can be encouraged to provide a setting of the Western Mass for the disabled - who knows?
My ducks are still a bit helter skelter, but with a little imagination a line is hinted at -- we'll keep getting the line in order for the day when retirement is required. It won't be too long now!
Search me! Well... I seem to be somewhat caught up in getting my ducks in a row for future retirement.
There are more ducks to line up when a disabled child - now an adult - has to be figured into the equation.
Barring information that opens additional opportunities, Son the Elder will spend much of his adult life with Bethesda Lutheran Communities. They are an organization with a good reputation for care of folks with developmental disabilities - care of body and soul.
That said, I remain concerned that his Lutheran faith be nurtured in doctrine and practice when his home is not at my address. Many, even at Bethesda, are of the mistaken impression that an emotional response is proof that something good is happening. If he is laughing and flapping his arms that might be construed as evidence that he is "getting something" from his "worship" experience.
Now if Son the Younger is laughing and flapping his arms we call that mischief, and it will result in a small slap to the back of the head (Gibbs-ing, we call it). Why the difference? I would argue that it isn't different.
Happy Clappy is not good for the soul! The Western Mass is not lost on the developmentally disabled. If these persons are wiggly and impatient, carry on. God's Word is at work in the speaking, in the hearing. God's Word causes growth as the Holy Spirit is in and with it.
If Son the Elder is laughing and flapping that is not evidece of getting something out of it -- it's evidence of excitability and is not conducive to learning or growing. It means he is distracted. That may be good if I'm trying to eat a snack that he shouldn't have, not so good if growing in faith is the goal.
Now that puts me in a quandary. I will have to live near him to have influence on where and how he worships.
When I retire, a move is likely. A move to a locality where Son the Elder can have a home and we can live nearby. Perhaps a local congregation can be encouraged to provide a setting of the Western Mass for the disabled - who knows?
My ducks are still a bit helter skelter, but with a little imagination a line is hinted at -- we'll keep getting the line in order for the day when retirement is required. It won't be too long now!
0 comments:
Post a Comment