So You Think You're Smart And Have It All?!

From schooling days, individuals who are socially less adaptable seem to have an affinity towards me. Since being out in the workforce, this phase of life seemed to have gone past until the week of Easter. Lately, over 2 consecutive days, I found myself being the focus of two such individuals. And I was reminded that nothing has changed: I still attract "odd characters". But what is awesome about this recent experience is God revealed to me, a precious lesson.

The lesson was drawn of the 1st individual I met a day before easter while helping out at the Easter celebrations for Children's Church. There were a group of 23 children mostly aged between 7 to 11 that 3 of us had to receive from a student care center in the East. I checked with the teachers if there were any of them that required special watching over and was told that amongst them was an intellectually-challenged child named Chris (not her real name). I observed her from afar and she seemed generally fine, and I left it at that.

While awaiting for the buse, we mingled with the children, getting to know them alittle. It was fun! Children have this straightforwardness; this purity; this ability to just speak what's in their hearts that make conversations so candid and endearing. I was chatting with a group of them, then standing over to watch as their teachers inspected and instructed them.

Just as we were about to board the bus, Chris came up to me, holding my right forearm, saying, "I sit with you in the bus ok?" I was taken aback, thinking, "Oh no... how do I handle her, a special needs child...?" From thereon, she clung on to me: through the bus ride, after we got off the bus, during the Easter program, through the return way.

What happened during the Easter drama bothered me. The children were told that those who were able to answer questions relating to the Easter drama would stand to win a prize. Since the announcement, she was reiterating one of the following a4 requests every 15 seconds, mostly the 1st one:

1. "You must help me with the questions ok? I want to win the prize."
2. "Later you sit with me in the bus ok? I dont want to sit with teacher."
3. "When got party? I want presents..."
4. "Can I hug the bee (a mascot) later?"

Now, I almost lost my cool. While I patiently told her to pay attention to the drama etc., I was boiling on the inside. I felt like a hypocrite and this disturbed me even after we got them back to the care center and all went well. The agitation I felt on the inside and my outward demeanour was too contradictory! The hypocrisy was so apparent I felt like I was outside of myself and looking at a very fake me.

I kept pondering on this incident and 3 days after, God opened my eyes as follows:

"Just as Chris has looked to you, to rely on your intellect, your wisdom to answer the questions, to seek food and comfort, you have depended on me for the same."

The way that Chris wanted my attention and needed my assurance is the way I cling to God. As she was to me, I am to God! Revelation..... and how revolutionary!! I never thought or saw myself as needy but I truly am!! The intellectual disparity between me and Chris, is many times more so between me and God who is ALL-WISE and ALL-LOVING; who in spite of my incapabilities and inadequacies envelops me with His being.

Thank God that He is longsuffering, and loving and patient to infinity! So as God is to me, I shall be to the "lesser" (defined from a societal point of view). As I have received from God, I can give of Him toward the people I meet.

God is awesome, isnt he? Every experience is a stepping stone; another grasp at His infinite wisdom and taste of his all-encompassing nature. #nelle#