|
|||||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||||
True Stories Written By Christians |
|
Have you seen the wind?
Ever since I was a small child I have had a 40% hearing loss in both of my ears. When you grow up with this type of loss, you don’t know the sounds that you are missing, such as the sound the heater turned on, overhead lights buzzing or the sound of the wind. It was through my friend Joshua Dee that I really heard and saw the wind for the first time in my life! One evening Joshua Dee came to my VineyardKids’ TenderCare class with his tape recorder and a tape of the wind. Yes, he recorded the sound of the wind with a subtle tapping sound in the background. Joshua has autism which is a disorder where autistic people have fewer "circuits" to process incoming data—sights, sounds, smells,etc..and their brain processes such information much slower. When there is a sensory overload, Joshua Dees’autism kicks in as a coping mechanism. In other words, he shuts the world out so that he can gain some control on his life. People have high expectations of him because he looks like a "typical" teen. So, when the autism kicks in, it can be surprising. Joshua’s one retreat from a difficult environment is to listen to the wind, whether it be actual sound from outside or on tape. This particular night, Joshua Dee asked me to listen to the wind. So I sat real close to him and I put the tape player by my ear. I could hear the wind while Joshua stared intently at me waiting for my response to the part where the sound was intense. He searched my eyes intently as if to say "that’s it, isn’t it awesome!". With a wonderful child-like expression of joy! For the first time in my life I actually embraced a part of God’s creation that we take for-granted. Joshua Dee, in his own way, showed me the wind… with a joy I’ll never forget. For this I thank God for Joshua Dee. When I shared this with his mother Cherie, she said that before church Joshua asked "Mom, what is Jesus doing in heaven?" She replied "He’s making a home for you and me." Joshua immediately confirmed, "For us to live in when He takes us to heaven." She said "That’s right," He thought for a moment, then said "Mom, I think I hear Jesus building our house right now." She was amazed at his clarity of thought around such an abstract concept and the power of the Holy Spirit. While Cherie was telling this story, I was remembering Saturday night, listening to the tape of the wind and this hit me. Perhaps the tapping sound on the tape was a picture of Jesus building our homes using nails and hammer. Imagine that glorious picture. Joshua Dee has visions too. Please visit our Christian Message Board http://members3.boardhost.com/AutismAndJesus/ If you have a story to share, please send it to Director@BridgeBuilders.4mg.com |
|