Moments of ‘this is how it was supposed to be’
“I am going to rap”
This sent me into a panic.
Matt and I were at a Young Life fall camp trip and they had just asked kids to sign up to be in the talent show. Matt has Down’s Syndrome and it is difficult to understand him when he talks, not to mention raps in front of 400 high school kids.
In all seriousness I was terrified that Matt was going to look like a fool. I was sure this was going to reinforce everything the world had already told Matt about his value and where he fits. I could picture people snickering as Matt put his heart out there in front of everyone.
My terror took on a whole new level when he asked me to, “lay the beat down for him.” I don’t really know what this means and I certainly don’t know how to do it.
I talked big Jesse into coming up with us too. Jesse is severely autistic and 6’5” tall and at least 300 pounds.
We were the first act and big Jesse and I started.
Step clap, step clap, step clap…..
Matt starts rapping…… You can’t understand a word he is saying but he is rapping with everything he has.
The room joins in. They have risen to their feet. They are stepping and clapping with us. They are cheering and Matt keeps rapping and keeps rapping and keeps rapping.
When given the opportunity to reinforce the worlds message to Matt and Jess they rejected that created a moment of “this is how it was supposed to be”
Four minutes later the room erupts in applause. Lucas Oil Stadium couldn’t match the decibel level that day.
In that moment Matt and Jesse experienced the Kingdom of God.
The Kingdom of God where those who go unnoticed in this world are made to be heroes
The Kingdom of God where the last will be first
The Kingdom of God where broken relationships are made whole again
The Kingdom of God where healing is found and restoration happens
The Kingdom of God where everyone has a seat at the table
The whole room experienced the Kingdom of God for those 5 minutes. I will never be the same because of it.
Much of our lives are made up of moments of “Surely this is not how God created it to be.”
We have the opportunity everyday to join God in creating moments of “This is how it was supposed to be”
I want to be someone who helps to create glimpses of the Kingdom of God and invites others in.