when people talk about causes or issues that don't relate to me, i find it particularly easy to ignore what they're saying.

yes, that was my compassionate opening line, just now. but if we're all honest, i think we can relate to that statement. you love adoption? meh. you love fitness? ok. you're into oils? fine, moving on.

you know what i mean?

perhaps it's because we're all so inundated with causes constantly on the internet or at church or at school or our kid's school. i think some of the shut out is ok and even needed. no one can champion every cause nor should they. we would all be exhausted humans getting small amounts of 1million things done and i'm not sure how much good that does.

what i do know is that everyone can champion life. because, we're all humans and we're all living and no one is a robot. i think my logic there is impeccable.

the other day before i started "working out", i downloaded a pod cast, thinking it was something else. it didn't download in time and i forgot about it...until i was on the plane coming home from the conference. i was bored and exhausted but couldn't sleep, so i looked in my podcasts and there it was. one lone ranger to listen to. so, why not.

and i sat in my seat and just cried and cried while i listened to a man talk about the value of life. and how the value of our life is simply found in being made in the image of God, not in the contribution we can give society. now, i am particularly sensitive to this as our sweet lila is on that special needs spectrum somewhere. and perhaps i would have ignored this before her. but i don't think it's right as a body of believers to do so...ignoring the value of all life.

at hopespoken there were a few meet-up/share groups on the last night like; new moms, seasoned moms, an adoption group, singles, handmade shop owners, and i lead the special needs moms group.

we sat outside and laughed together about our children licking everything. saying strange things. taking their pants off in the store, because why not. not being able to verbalize when someone asks, what's your name? pushing someone because they can't say they'd like a turn with that toy.
a group where we didn't feel so abnormal saying, we don't fit in at playdates.
my child doesn't get invited to birthday parties.
this is hard and i feel alone.
where do we fit into this life?

it was one of my favorite times at the conference. i don't have many friends with special needs kids--where i live or on the internet even. so being connected like this was so refreshing. just to nod our heads at each other and say, i know.

we talked about how God knitted these children in the womb, just like this. knowing the missing chromosomes. knowing the intricacies of their different needs, their special diets, their unique brains, their unusual bodies. he knit them just so and they reflect the image of God in some way. i was just blown back by that thought. that somehow, special needs children reflect the image of God.

their limitless boundaries.
their crazy joy.
how they find no reason to hide emotions.
how they feel so intensely some things.

i see Him in lila so much. and i feel like i have to champion and defend her most of the time. and sometimes i do defend her...but she can do this! see her value!

so when i heard this sermon, i finally really heard someone saying, all of life is important. the ones that contribute, and the ones that aren't born yet, the ones that are born with special needs, the ones that are considered normal. life is valuable simply because every single person reflects the image of christ. you never have to defend your child's value for anything other than simply, because God said So.

i feel a burden to help people understand that my special needs child and others all around the world, are valuable because God made it so. whether you have no experience with a special needs kid or you have plenty, we all need to listen to this truth over and over.

will you take time to listen to it? i promise it will knock your socks off.
(it is addressed to pastors, but pretend like he said i want to address my fellow CHRISTIANS)


SERMON from Paul Martin

Image of God - Creation - Fall - Redemption - Consummation