“Normal” Over-rated, Over-Diagnosed, Over-and-Out
I remember a time when I thought I was normal. I’m serious, I remember just days ago thinking I was like you or that guy sitting over there or maybe even like that person down the hall, but I’m not.
As I stepped out of my Acura TSX this morning, I said to God “Okay, I’m not in the mood for this and I’ve got nothing to give.”
I was the speaker at the annual Self Managers Assembly at Mount Vernon Elementary in Springfield. I’ve been involved with the school for 20 years and the main speaker at this event for 14. I love doing it but today I was just not feeling it at all.
As I got inside something started to change. Mount Vernon is a school with amazing diversity. Not just in terms of race but in abilities as well.
Over the years I’ve met many great students who are still close to me today.
As I met up with the principal the first thing out of his mouth was something about their new playground that is wheelchair accessible.
At that moment God softened my hardened heart and whispered in my ear. He said: “talk to the kids about what you know Rick, talk to the kids about being different.”
I met several students today who, like me, are cancer survivors.The young woman on my right in this picture is a survivor. Cancer makes us very different. I got to see my friend Gabe, he’s the young man so many of you commented on when he was on my profile picture with me. Remember this picture?
But the greatest moment of the day was when this young man, JJ, walked up to the stage to get his reward. JJ pulled his chair up to the bottom step, climbed out, and pulled himself up seven or eight steps, crawling on his arms with his legs following behind him across the stage. He stopped so I could give him is award and then faced the audience. The folks were clapping so loudly I wondered if the ceiling would cave-in.
Okay now, I wasn’t the only one who had tears running down their face. The school has an elevator JJ could have used but he chose to do it his way.
I was so proud of him. I thanked him afterwards for showing people how amazing he really is. I told him what he did today was so powerful because it allowed all of us to see JJ as a person, not someone in a wheelchair.
I love Mount Vernon Elementary and what it stands for. It truly believes in people, all people with all abilities, colors and cultures. Perhaps that’s why I keep going back year after year to see my friends.
As I climbed back in my car, at the end of the assembly, I had to stop for a minute and take a deep breath. The issues that had prevented me from feeling alive before were gone.
I Love that about you God. I truly do.
Normal, never again.
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Thank you Rick for being there today the kids love you being there. They look forward to it every year as so do the Adults. Mt. Vernon Loves you and thank you for this amazing story. We are all truly blessed to be apart of an amazing school with even more amazing students, teachers, families and PTA. Glad today’s experience made your day better than it started. We always look forward to your visit.
Alicia Johnson
i am glad you get to experience personal renewal Rick, i feel the same way when going to prison ministry.. i havent gone in a while for personal reasons (soon to resume) it always feels heavy when arriving there, i feel kind of empty, not much to give, but that’s actually better i guess, because then God has all the room He needs to incarnate Himself lol
And afterwards, when the Bible study is finished and we pray with the inmates, it’s like WOW!.. “what just happened here?!” .. And that same feeling you mentioned is rising in us: we feel so ALIVE!!
I think Jesus gave us a hint of that when He said that we should always let the ox feed of the field it’s helping to harvest… i just love it!
Wow, what a great experience! =’) I don’t say that because you mentioned my son Gabriel either, though that was really really sweet, thank you. I say so, because it really is wonderful when the boundaries of normal can be broken and something so much greater is realized. I know from personal experience that JJ lights up those around him everyday. He really is such an amazing and inspiring little boy. It’s also so awesome how God can work in our lives to take even those everyday difficult moments and turn them into something miraculous. I know, because your article turned my normal evening into something special too, all because you cared to share. Thank you -
Absolutely beautiful article. Thank you for sharing this experience with us! It is with and through experiences like this that we will help others understand that being different is highly under-rated. This has become my purpose and mission in life as I have a daughter with a chromosome abnormality. If anyone is interested you can read more at http://www.DifferentizGood.org –
Looking forward to enjoying more of your articles Rick. Thank you!
What an outstanding article – that was really a treat – thanks for taking the time,
Jay McLaughlin