{"id":2489,"date":"2012-01-27T05:25:41","date_gmt":"2012-01-27T10:25:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/simplelife\/?p=2489"},"modified":"2012-02-01T18:42:46","modified_gmt":"2012-02-01T23:42:46","slug":"the-need-for-destiny","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2012\/01\/the-need-for-destiny.html","title":{"rendered":"The need for destiny"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>At times, an author hits a universal nerve and their thoughts and beliefs become a phenomenal success. \u00a0That is what happened with Rick Warren’s book,\u00a0The Purpose-Driven Life.<\/em>\u00a0 Most of us had not given much thought to our destiny until suddenly Warren forced us through his thesis to look beyond our every day existence and probe the direction in which our lives were heading.<\/p>\n

As Christians, we knew that our destiny has been wrapped around the needs of a fallen world. \u00a0However, Warren forced many of us to take our destiny more seriously than we had previously.<\/p>\n

When working with the mentally challenged community, we sometimes lose sight of their need for destiny. \u00a0Their need for purpose is as much a driving force as any other adult. \u00a0The question we need to continually keep before us is: \u00a0How can I help my members discover their destiny in Christ? Here are some things which help them and may also help you.<\/p>\n

1. \u00a0We remind<\/strong> our members often that their life is not a mistake. \u00a0Each person has a purpose no matter what their circumstances of life. \u00a0While Jennifer could neither talk or walk, she taught me so much about love. \u00a0When I held her hand, she would squeeze my hand in hers. \u00a0Though her entire body seemed to be without much muscle tone, she could gently squeeze my hand. \u00a0Jen would even say my name on occasion. \u00a0She didn’t say, “Linda;” \u00a0but “Linda Howard.” \u00a0When she had to be placed in a group home about 50 miles from our town, I didn’t see her for about three years. \u00a0When I bumped into her at the mall, I approached her. \u00a0She raised both arms to me and said, “Linda Howard!” \u00a0Her caregiver was dumbfounded. \u00a0He questioned me, “Are you Linda Howard?” \u00a0I smiled, nodding my head. \u00a0“But she doesn’t talk!” he exclaimed. \u00a0I knew that but she said my name. \u00a0That is love.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>2. \u00a0We reassure<\/strong> our members that their lives can have a positive effect on the lives of others. \u00a0The first person to really accept me at Special Gathering was Howard. \u00a0He was probably one of the most obnoxious people who ever lived. \u00a0Nevertheless, Howard’s contribution to our fellowship was his acceptance of every new person. \u00a0During one Bible class, we were talking about the gifts God has given to each of us. \u00a0Howard said, “I don’t have any gifts.” \u00a0Reassuring him, I quickly polled the class asking each person who was their first friend at Special Gathering. \u00a0Without exception, they said Howard. \u00a0It was a fact that Howard didn’t wear well but he made a great first impression. \u00a0As long as Howard was a part of our fellowship, we knew that each new member would find his place because of Howard.<\/p>\n

3. \u00a0We help them<\/strong>\u00a0to understand that love brings acceptance. \u00a0As our members reach out in genuine Christ-love, almost everyone responds with gratitude. \u00a0More times than not, gratitude leads to acceptance.<\/p>\n

4. \u00a0Living without<\/strong> a disability does not mean that you live with love and acceptance. \u00a0The destiny of our members can be tried to their disability in a positive way. \u00a0We can strive to help them understand that embracing their disability, rather than hating who they are may mean that others will see their peace and draw from them a love for themselves and their Creator, God.<\/p>\n

Destiny isn’t reserved for only able-bodied folks with a high IQ. \u00a0In fact, seeing the profound effect our members have on the lives of others often forces those who labor among them to reaccess and know that God can and does use us for His purpose.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

At times, an author hits a universal nerve and their thoughts and beliefs become a phenomenal success. \u00a0That is what happened with Rick Warren’s book,\u00a0The Purpose-Driven Life.\u00a0 Most of us had not given much thought to our destiny until suddenly Warren forced us through his thesis to look beyond our every day existence and probe…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":387,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,5,3,40,186,49,16,8],"tags":[690,21,688,358,699,715,701,689,356,6,357],"class_list":["post-2489","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-autism-spectrum","category-christianity","category-developmental-disabilities","category-faith","category-hope","category-inspiration","category-intellectual-disability","category-mentally-challenged-community","tag-autism-spectrum","tag-christian","tag-christianity","tag-destiny","tag-faith","tag-hope","tag-inspiration","tag-mentally-challenged-community","tag-rick-warren","tag-simple-scriptural-truths","tag-the-purpose-driven-life"],"yoast_head":"\nThe need for destiny - A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2012\/01\/the-need-for-destiny.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The need for destiny - A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"At times, an author hits a universal nerve and their thoughts and beliefs become a phenomenal success. \u00a0That is what happened with Rick Warren’s book,\u00a0The Purpose-Driven Life.\u00a0 Most of us had not given much thought to our destiny until suddenly Warren forced us through his thesis to look beyond our every day existence and probe…\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2012\/01\/the-need-for-destiny.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2012-01-27T10:25:41+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2012-02-01T23:42:46+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/specialgathering.files.wordpress.com\/2012\/01\/rick-warren.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Linda G. Howard\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"The need for destiny - A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2012\/01\/the-need-for-destiny.html","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"The need for destiny - A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith","og_description":"At times, an author hits a universal nerve and their thoughts and beliefs become a phenomenal success. \u00a0That is what happened with Rick Warren’s book,\u00a0The Purpose-Driven Life.\u00a0 Most of us had not given much thought to our destiny until suddenly Warren forced us through his thesis to look beyond our every day existence and probe…","og_url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/simplelife\/2012\/01\/the-need-for-destiny.html","og_site_name":"A Simple Life, a Childlike Faith","article_published_time":"2012-01-27T10:25:41+00:00","article_modified_time":"2012-02-01T23:42:46+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"http:\/\/specialgathering.files.wordpress.com\/2012\/01\/rick-warren.jpg"}],"author":"Linda G. 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