Working Together

Over the course of the fall several of us who volunteer at Kirkridge were looking to find a way to support the beginning of a community for people with different abilities so they could support themselves and be viable in our world. We had several ideas as we thought about products and services that people with cognitive disabilities could make or be a part of. We also though about the mission of Kirkridge, an ecumenical retreat center, where welcome, inclusiveness, and hospitality provide a safe place for all people to honor their God given gifts. 

We were making Kirkridge Prayer Beads last week and I thought of the movie Lincoln, which I recently saw, and  Lincoln's ability to see each person as a human being and champion all people. As I worked with people with varying ranges of cognitive abilities, I felt that we were all blessed in our time together. We were performing what might appear to be a simple task. We were stringing beads, crafting together, working together to help support a new way of including the ‘other’ into our community. One fifteen year old picked up the craft almost instantly and taught those of us who had been refining this task for months many tricks that made the job much more simple. She sat along side a young man with less ability to alter the task than she, but together they completed several of the bead sets in little time. Before I knew it the hour and a half had past and each group of people, all of our abilities mixed, had completed 18 sets of prayer beads. Along the way we shared cookies, soft drinks and conversation. We listened to Christmas music, and somehow, we were all moved. Each of us left with a sense of accomplishment, a task well done. Those of us who with more typical abilities were just as proud as those who may not be considered able in the larger world. The activities of this day caused me to pause on a few questions; Do people every really honor each other as human beings?  What is our birthright? Aren’t we all really the same people with the same longing? 

So when we finished our task that day I started to think about ability, color, race, religion, sexual orientation, and neighborhood. All the things that set us apart; possessions, education, intellect, vision. Or can they bring us together? Because when we came together to make these beads - all those barriers went away. One young man was great at stringing the beads, Another reminded us to take a break and enjoy the treats. And yet another made sure we were working meticulously and keeping things in order. New friends in this community led us to new ways to make the process more efficient. We all had a task, and we were all proud of the outcome that day. We worked together, each of us brought our talent and joy, each of us our gifts. And it was holy.