"How do we get a culture where "normal" means a lot of different things?" & "What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness and acceptance?"

I'd like to dedicate this devotional to our daughter, Holly, who celebrates her 35th birthday today and her sons, (our grandsons) James (age 9), Matteo (age 71/2) and to Luca who is 5 days old.
I have a couple of screen savers on my computer I'd like to share with you. Most of you are probably familiar with screen savers. If you're not you may have seen them on the computer monitors where computers are sold. They appear on your computer monitor or screen after a period of non-use. Many times they are animated fish swimming about or photographs. Some are like "cyber" bumper stickers that are created by the user. That's the type I have. One is a quote from a person I respect very much and always enjoyed listening to. His name is Herb Lovett. Herb once said, "How do we get a culture where "normal" means a lot of different things?" I have always loved that. It reminds me of UBC and for me, what UBC stands for. The second quote was something I heard several years ago; it too reminds me of UBC. "What wisdom can you find, that is greater than kindness and acceptance." That's the one I'd like to focus on for a few minutes.

As many of you know Sally and I have worked for a number of years within the Mental Health Mental Retardation (MHMR) system. We've worked primarily with people with mental retardation. We've worked with some wonderful folks over the years. This morning I'd like to tell you about one of our friends we worked with in Wichita Falls. He is from Nacogdoches and his name is George. He has one of the best smiles I've ever seen and his eyes just twinkle. When I would see George, he just made me smile. George had a great sense of humor and we laughed a lot. But George could be as serious as he was fun loving. One of things he was most serious about was the correct time of day. His watch was always accurate. If he saw a clock or a watch that was "incorrect", he believed it should be adjusted. This was very important to him. He didn't get angry or rude; he was just very concerned and knew it wasn't supposed to be that way. I'm that way about toothpaste after using it; it should have the lid, or cap on, and put away.

During that period in Wichita Falls, I would keep my watch set 5 minutes fast to help me get to meetings on time. On several occasions, George would see that my watch was fast and the time incorrect. He would point this out and patiently wait for me to change my watch. I would make the adjustment; George would sigh and break into that huge smile and pat me on the back. One day I was running late, I should had my watch set 10 minutes ahead. I went quickly to the men's room before leaving the building for the meeting. Just as I was leaving the men's room, George walked in and immediately asked me what time I had. I didn't really have time to talk, but I couldn't just dash off and leave George. I tried to both talk to George and walk off at the same time, explaining that I kept my watch set head to help me get to meetings on time. George didn't understand; to George my watch had the wrong time. He looked me right in the eye, reached out and patted my arm, gave a small smile and said, "It's OK." Immediately I was taken back and stopped. I was completely humbled by his kindness and acceptance. For George to accept that my watch was wrong and that it appeared I was not going to stop and change it was difficult for me to bear. It still is today, years later. George taught me a lesson of kindness and acceptance that day.

Since that day, I have wondered many times why we, as a society, label and stereotype people. Although George carries the label of mental retardation, his wisdom overshadows and is clearly contradictory to that label. What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness and acceptance?
Until I was working on this devotional I never realized that the answer to the first question is in the second. "How do we get a culture where "normal" means a lot of different things?" When we realize that there is no "greater wisdom than kindness and acceptance."

By the way, you might like to know that George is a cousin of one of our UBC members. I found out in June, that George's Father and Linda Kemp's father were brothers.

Let us pray:

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for this Church and all, whose lives are touched by UBC,
Thank you for all those we learn from during our lives on earth,
Thank you for giving us the ability and opportunities to learn,
Help us to live, as you want us to live,
Through accepting others and showing kindness to all.
Helps us remember that we are one people,
And that although we are each individually unique,
We are more alike, than we are different.
In Christ's Name we pray, Amen.

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