Monday, October 19, 2015

George

October 18, 2015

Where else would he be accepted the way he is here? That's the question I've asked myself time and again. George (not his real name) is developmentally disabled. Not being an expert in such things, I can't say exactly what labels would be given him by a professional, but he is a bit slower intellectually and is lacking in what we would call social skills. Once he gets an idea in his head, there's no letting go of it; it will keep coming up until someone or something interrupts the flow.

And yet...

He loves Jesus. There is no denying or disputing that fact. He is deeply concerned for neighbors and friends who don't know Jesus, so much so that at prayer time tonight in our men's Bible study, part of his prayer was that he wouldn't unintentionally do anything that would hinder his neighbor from coming to Christ. Whenever prayer time comes up, George has someone in mind who needs Jesus.

If that weren't enough, as we prayed our way around the table, he was the only one to think to ask forgiveness for his sins of the day. The rest of us had our (legitimate) prayer concerns, but George was the only one who recognized his need for forgiveness. Any one of us seated at the table tonight would no doubt be able to outreason and and outargue him in whatever subject that should arise. But I don't think any of us has a leg up on him when it comes to loving Christ. Tonight I am grateful for George, and for others like him I've known who reveal Christ to me in a way that those of us who fit into the mainstream of church life cannot.

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