One of a Kind
"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." ~Friedrich Nietzsche
My brother and I have officially adopted each other. Joey, brain damaged at birth, is my older brother by six years. My mom's primary worry all her life was that, if something happened to her, the world would gobble Joey up. Forty-six years ago, the world piled anyone who wasn't "normal" into one group and failed to understand differences. The world we grew up in was not kind to people who didn't learn like everyone else, or move like everyone else, or act like everyone else.
Thank God, our world has changed. We have come a long way in understanding people's differences. Our children's prayer each morning in their private school says, "Thank you God for the chance to be different." Our community, learning about Joey and his impending move and the passing of our Mom, waits to embrace him. The neighbors can't wait to meet Joey. Those who have already met him from previous visits continually ask when they will see him again. The church has a place for Joey, the school is already laying claim on Joey.
Mom worried that the world would gobble Joey up in all the wrong ways. The world I'm waking up to today recognizes the beauty in differences. He'll be gobbled up alright; into the waiting arms of a family, a community, and a group of people who cherish people for exactly who they are.
My incredible brother is one of a kind.
My brother and I have officially adopted each other. Joey, brain damaged at birth, is my older brother by six years. My mom's primary worry all her life was that, if something happened to her, the world would gobble Joey up. Forty-six years ago, the world piled anyone who wasn't "normal" into one group and failed to understand differences. The world we grew up in was not kind to people who didn't learn like everyone else, or move like everyone else, or act like everyone else.
Thank God, our world has changed. We have come a long way in understanding people's differences. Our children's prayer each morning in their private school says, "Thank you God for the chance to be different." Our community, learning about Joey and his impending move and the passing of our Mom, waits to embrace him. The neighbors can't wait to meet Joey. Those who have already met him from previous visits continually ask when they will see him again. The church has a place for Joey, the school is already laying claim on Joey.
Mom worried that the world would gobble Joey up in all the wrong ways. The world I'm waking up to today recognizes the beauty in differences. He'll be gobbled up alright; into the waiting arms of a family, a community, and a group of people who cherish people for exactly who they are.
My incredible brother is one of a kind.
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