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| "Meet Terrence Freeman" |
| (August 14, 2000) The closing session of the conference was presented by Terrence Freeman, an educator, consultant and motivational speaker from St. Louis, MO, with a little help from Tyler Bartlett from British Columbia. Terrence and Tyler were a 'team' in the truest sense of the word... Tyler, a delightful 3 year old, decided to pay Terrence a visit during his presentation - and Terrence, being the motivational leader he is, knew a little leader when he saw one, and scooped Tyler up in his arms as he shared their now-joint message. Tyler's mom had earlier shared with me some of the challenges they had fought to overcome with a hospital setting that held out little hope for Tyler's very survival. In essence, they had to fight for Tyler's very existence with a system which woefully under-rated Tyler's ultimate capacity! Looking at Tyler, as he scampered around the conference area, it was clear to me that Tyler enjoyed being alive and was indeed a very curious and engaging little boy! If a picture is worth a thousand words, the picture of Terrence holding Tyler while reading the following poem written by Terrence for the Moebius conference ... the picture and message were beyond price!.... Thank you, Terrence!!!!! AND Tyler!!!! |
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| "Good afternoon, I generally don't like introductions because they tend toward the irrelevant. If what I have to say is worthwhile, then an introduction is not important but I would like to tell you who I am. I am the son of Calvin and LaVerne; I am the grandson of Ivory, Berryl, Edward and Almeta. I am the product of relatives, teachers, elders and friends who have supported me through many trials and that support must be recognized. I am the beneficiary of unearned privilege because it was not my choice or my effort that prevented my being born with a disability and I didn't earn the involvement of the community organizations that offered me academic, emotional and spiritual guidance. My fortune made me realize that it truly does take a village to raise a child and I am most appreciative that my village is still working on me. Most importantly, however, I am a child of God and it is to Him that all praise, honor, and glory should be directed. That other introduction told you about some things I had done but it didn't really tell you who I am.... |
| "Do you Know Me?" You saw me in a wheelchair and knew I couldn't walk And because you were uncomfortable you didn't stop and talk. You only saw a handicap; you never asked my name, So you missed the steps and hurdles my persistence overcame. You gazed upon my blindness and you walked the other way, Sometimes its awfully difficult to know just what to say, There was no conversation and you missed another chance To view the many insights that my sightlessness enhanced. I detected your discomfort when I couldn't shake your hand And I sensed your exit strategy to somewhere else to stand I didn't get the chance to share my victories over strife And you missed the chace to feel the firmness in my grip on life You didn't understand my words; I couldn't hear a sound You didn't sign and so we found no easy common ground. You quit in your frustration but you had another choice, And you might have heard the wisdom echo from my inner voice I wrestled with my fears and I have overcome depression, But facially the triumph didn't show on my expression I know its hard when you expect to see a frown or grin, But since you missed the smile outside, you missed the smile within. My life has seen some struggle, but I've mastered how to cope, My life, like yours, is filled with love, some loss, some joy, some hope, Don't view me or describe me through the things I cannot do, But see me for my assets - I have much to offer you. We separate the threads by skin, ability or gender, Then we miss the woven tapestry - its beauty and its splendor. We're part of God's humanity; we each have gifts to share And collectively we flourish by the ways we show we care. Terrence L. Freeman @ July, 2000 |