I wanted to share with you one of those precious moments the other day where I caught a glimpse of heaven. My job took me to visit the annual WROK (Wheelchairs Rule OK) program at Youthworks Blue Gum Lodge. The theme for the week was Freedom and Joy and WROK provides a place for youth with disabilities, aged 12-21 years, to hang out with other youth with disabilities.

As I pulled into the driveway, I realised that I was feeling a bit apprehensive going into a situation where I didn’t know anyone.  I have many years of experience in working with youth with disabilities, but not so much in a face to face capacity. As I pulled myself together I reminded myself that I am an educated person with a few degrees, I have the ability to deal with being out of my comfort zone.

What confronted me over the time of my visit was how gently God puts us in situations to replace our arrogance with humility. As I looked at these young people I was reminded that it is not our education or ability or what we do that is important to God. These young people taught me the freedom to be who we are as God’s creation.

But living with disability is an ongoing struggle. One of the youths had recently been asked to leave a shopping centre because it was assumed he was drunk by the way he was walking! I have worked in child protection for a long time and seen the huge challenges and responsibilities that children, young people and families have to face living with a disability. And I’ve seen the reality of family breakdown simply because of the fatigue of looking after children with high needs.

WROK ON is another opportunity for the young people to meet for a weekend twice a year. There are parents who have been coming to this program for years as volunteers, and bring their children with them. This provides an additional opportunity for people with disabilities attending WROK ON who don’t have any exposure to children in their life, to experience the pleasure that comes from having children around. What really touched me was the volunteers who said that as a result of being part of this program they had gone on to study psychology, special education etc. It is always a pleasure to see community functioning and it was difficult to determine who was getting blessed the most, the volunteers running the program or the youth attending.

Is this what they were talking about at Synod when they promoted having more inclusive churches? I couldn’t help wondering how this opportunity might spill out beyond a camp and into local churches where we can intentionally support families and young people in need?

Margy Jones is the Director of Special Programs, Youthworks Outdoors  www.youthworks.net/access.