Laura’s Blog
A Poem for Your Soul
under the skyfull of blue,warmth of the sunon my skin.the Lightshines within,always forever.even whendays get shorter,clouds return,hope grows dim,a fire stillburnsdeep,forever within. look up,keep your eyeon the sky.watch, wait forthe birds above,two eagles soarover...
Come Close and See
Am I frail and weak or finite and meek? Come close and see— let us be companions on this journey. In darkness or light, loss or lack, I’ll sit with you, if you’ll stay beside me. Come close and see He is with us, nearby constantly. Can we remember what we are told,...
Why Hospitality and Friendship are Key
"Hospitality involves actively welcoming and befriending the stranger — in this case, a person with disabilities — not as a spectacle, but as someone with inherent value, loved into being by God, created in the image of God, and thus having unique gifts to offer as a...
How Limits are Part of Humanity
"Like everyone else, people with developmental disabilities have wonderful strengths and gifts that exist alongside their limitations."[1]Erik Carter Theologian Deborah Creamer tells us, "…limits are an unsurprising aspect of being human. Limits are normal. Rather...
Common Obstacles to Belonging
"A history of exclusion or inhospitable attitudes can have a wounding effect on people with developmental disabilities and their families."[1]Erik Carter A few weeks ago I interviewed a 24-year old young woman, who we will call Julie. She has lived with lupus for the...
Building Inclusion into the Mission of the Church
"Fully welcoming people with disabilities is fundamental to following Jesus."[1]Bethany McKinney Fox, pastor of Beloved Everybody Church When you think of sharing the gospel and making disciples of all, do you think of people with disabilities? The effects of...
Who are the Ones the World Leaves Behind?
The poem you read last week invites you to ponder the "ones the world leaves behind." It is true that many people could be called "the stranger" until they are brought into community. Many are also marginalized and excluded for being part of minority groups. For the...
The Body Needs More
Remember the call—Go,make disciplesof all. Go means gather,see who existsbeyond the walloutside:the stranger,the marginalized,stigmatized,ones the worldleaves behind. Please don't waitfor us to arrive.We might be late;We may be stuck,feeling forlornor...
On the Edge of the Future
I didn’t want to listen to the word God spoke to my heart. Future. That word scared me. The future has always carried two scenarios in my mind: 1) the time when my parents are no longer here; 2) the time when my marriage dream comes to fruition. One is full of fear....
On Provision in the Present
I never thought I’d say I survived a tornado. But in early August, that’s exactly what happened. A tornado blew right over our house at 3:00 in the morning. There was no time to prepare, no time to move to a “safer” spot. The power went out, my breathing machine quit,...
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