3.10.2007
"I'm goin' to STATE!"
I just returned from a weekend that I won't soon forget. Yesterday morning, I went along with the special-ed teacher from Rock Valley High School, one of my boys from Niessink, and a girl from MOC to Iowa City for the Special Olympics State Basketball Competition. The guy from Niessink has been saying "I'm goin' to STATE!" this whole week. So now it finally happened. Everyone competed in different divisions - age and gender, of course - in 3 events, shooting the basket from 6 points around the basket, running as fast as they can while dribbling the ball, and rebounding the ball against the wall. For that last one, there was a square taped off against the wall and they had to bounce the ball in the square and rebound it. But while the kids enjoyed the basketball, the best part was the times at the mall, in the van, eating meals, and in the hotel. Hearing two kids listening to different songs on their separate CD players and both of them singing along...it just kept a smile on your face the whole time! (especially when they broke out the Christmas songs!) :)
I just really realized how amazing these kids are while I was down there. I knew that before, but I'm realizing it more and more. Like how they don't care about who they talk to. They're not bound by our American reluctance to talk to people! They're willing to break that barrier and tell people they don't know where they're going. They're not scared to show that they're excited about their lives and what they're doing. It's really a cool thing to see. I was thinking about how in Jesus' time, there were so many people who were turned away by the disciples - children, cripples, blind men, people deemed "unworthy" of Christ's attention and love. And then I listened to my boy singing "come to Jesus, come to Jesus..." It brought a tear to my eye thinking about it. Christ died for these people, too! Listen to me - "these people..." I make it sound like they're not the same as us! And in a lot of ways, they're not exactly the same...but God still made them, right? And that fact reminds me that we're ALL made in God's image.
"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
Words to remember. A challenge to me and anyone who reads this to think about.
I just really realized how amazing these kids are while I was down there. I knew that before, but I'm realizing it more and more. Like how they don't care about who they talk to. They're not bound by our American reluctance to talk to people! They're willing to break that barrier and tell people they don't know where they're going. They're not scared to show that they're excited about their lives and what they're doing. It's really a cool thing to see. I was thinking about how in Jesus' time, there were so many people who were turned away by the disciples - children, cripples, blind men, people deemed "unworthy" of Christ's attention and love. And then I listened to my boy singing "come to Jesus, come to Jesus..." It brought a tear to my eye thinking about it. Christ died for these people, too! Listen to me - "these people..." I make it sound like they're not the same as us! And in a lot of ways, they're not exactly the same...but God still made them, right? And that fact reminds me that we're ALL made in God's image.
"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
Words to remember. A challenge to me and anyone who reads this to think about.
3.01.2007
11:34PM
It is 11:34 PM. I am officially snowed in at Niessink. I've been here since 6:30 this morning. It's great. I'll be here til at least 8:30 this coming morning. But i have fun people snowed in with me, so it's all good. I'll post more later!
