The leveling truth: We are, or will all most likely someday be disabled in some way! Accidents and injuries can lead to (hopefully temporary) disability. But unless you die young, you will one day experience the debilitating infirmities and indignities of aging; hearing aid, glasses, mobility aids. Many have invisible disabilities, deafness, diabetes, learning difficulties, levels of autism. If you think you are perfect, and it will never happen to you, you are already disabled with a personality disorder, you are probably a narcissist. Mental illness is another sometimes invisible disability and 1 out of every 2 people in the world will develop a mental health disorder in their lifetime.

The greatest statement I ever saw about Disability Awareness happened at an evening Youth Church service at All Saints Church, Palmerston North, some years ago. A young man, in a wheel chair, severely physically disabled, drove his electric wheelchair up the front of the service and slid out of his chair onto the floor to crawl up the steps, pulling himself by his arms, dragging his useless legs behind him, to put his tithe into the collection plate. No one had realized, that he also had something to give to the Lord, and that he couldn’t easily reach the collection plate. Leon wasn’t prepared to miss out on his blessing for being obedient to the Lord in giving to His service. Jaws dropped all over the Church, Leon cannot express himself quickly in words, he has to type what he wants to say on a machine – but without saying a word, he taught everyone in that Church one of the greatest lessons ever.

I have 3 disabled family members, one has had a major DVT, a blood clot so large it stretched from ankle to groin, that has done permanent damage, but his greater disability is severe anxiety. Another has fibromyalgia, a severely debilitating disorder, sometimes leaving her unable to even get out of bed. The 3rd you wouldn’t think was disabled if you met her on the street, but if you talk to her long enough or watch her long enough and know the signs you become aware she has Low-functioning Autism (LFA).

All of us made in God’s image, all of value and worth and deserving of love, and consideration. So today we remember those with disabilities, which is most of us, the vast majority of people are struggling with something. I will share some video’s that many of the Churches across New Zealand made the year before the pandemic, from those whose lives are differently challenged. Long Covid means even more people now suffer from disability than prior to the pandemic. So remember - Be kind to one another.