After Special Gathering chapel service\u00a0on Sunday morning , James, whose disability is within the autism spectrum, came up to shake my hand. \u00a0Because it was Resurrection Day, we had abandoned our usual worship format. \u00a0The chairs were arranged in a circle. \u00a0We sang,<\/p>\n
Celebrate, Jesus, celebrate.<\/p>\n
He is risen. He is risen.<\/p>\n
Come on and celebrate<\/p>\n
The resurrection of our Lord.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
I had shared a devotion retelling the amazing story of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. \u00a0Then we dismissed to take part in the pancake breakfast given by the youth department of First United Methodist Church of Melbourne.<\/p>\n
It was obvious that James was overwhelmed with emotion this morning. \u00a0He grabbed my hand, gently pulled me toward him. \u00a0Then in a clumsy, lovely and awkward way, he kissed me on the cheek. \u00a0Then he did it again and again and again. \u00a0Four times James kissed me.<\/p>\n
Unless you know James and unless you are familiar with the symptoms of autism, you cannot understand what a gift and miracle those four kisses are for me and for James. In the ten years, I\u2019ve known him, neither his staff nor I can recall anyone that James has kissed.<\/p>\n
The autism spectrum is a wide range of symptoms that span a wide variety of anti-social, personality disorders. \u00a0For James as with many people whose disability is within the spectrum, personal contact is extremely difficult. \u00a0Yes, they have deep, stirring emotions; but their ability to express those emotions with personal contact can be vastly limited.<\/p>\n
When and if\u00a0they<\/strong> instigate contact with another person, it is fine. \u00a0However, they can be repulsed and may even be terrified by contact with someone, if they do not initiate the touch.<\/p>\n
After James kissed me, he left to join the other members standing in line for pancakes. \u00a0Erik, a good friend of James\u2019 who had been his staff person in the group home where James lives, came up to me. \u00a0\u201dWhat was that all about?\u201d he asked in a protective and concerned tone.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe kissed me. \u00a0Four times, he kissed me on the cheek.\u201d<\/p>\n
Immediately, his anxious look turned to a broad smile. \u00a0\u201dHe did what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe kissed me. \u00a0Four times,\u201d I held up four fingers, adding emphasis to my claim. \u00a0\u201dHe kissed me four times on the cheek.\u201d<\/p>\n
Erik grinned and turned to other duties. \u00a0\u201dI have my resurrection miracle,\u201d I said as he began to turn away.<\/p>\n
Again, Erik\u2019 smile overcame his face, as he turned back to me. \u00a0\u201dI\u2019ll say you did.\u201d<\/p>\n
I remember the day James reached out and touched my extended finger in a sacred, quick touch. \u00a0A miracle of tender care occurred that morning. \u00a0Some months later, James came up to me. \u00a0He took one finger out of his ear, stopped humming for a split second. \u00a0Then he extended his hand to shake mine. \u00a0Again, I knew a miracle of love had happened joining James\u2019 heart to mine.<\/p>\n
Within the disability Christian community, mighty miracles happen almost every day. \u00a0They come in the form of a touch, a handshake. \u00a0But the resurrection miracles often become a kiss on the cheek. \u00a0Indeed, Jesus has come that we might have life and that life comes in abundant love.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
After Special Gathering chapel service\u00a0on Sunday morning , James, whose disability is within the autism spectrum, came up to shake my hand. \u00a0Because it was Resurrection Day, we had abandoned our usual worship format. \u00a0The chairs were arranged in a circle. \u00a0We sang, Celebrate, Jesus, celebrate. He is risen. He is risen. Come on and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":387,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,5,20,3,40,10,16,28,38,12,41],"tags":[690,21,688,696,7,699,701,13,19,689,702,692,35,700],"class_list":["post-172","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-autism-spectrum","category-christianity","category-church","category-developmental-disabilities","category-faith","category-inspirational","category-intellectual-disability","category-mentally-challenged","category-passion-week","category-religion","category-spirituality","tag-autism-spectrum","tag-christian","tag-christianity","tag-church","tag-developmental-disabilities-2","tag-faith","tag-inspiration","tag-intellectual-disabilities","tag-mental-retardation","tag-mentally-challenged-community","tag-miracles","tag-religion","tag-resurrection-day","tag-spirituality"],"yoast_head":"\n
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