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Rolling on the Trails
How often do you walk or run? I can’t walk and I definitely can’t run. That doesn’t stop me from getting on the trails or taking long walks. Being outdoors is a challenge for me. I have anxiety about going out on my own when I don’t have a service dog. Right now, I’m waiting… Continue reading
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Forgiveness
The Importance of Not Holding a Grudge I have had some bad experiences with people who were supposed to love me. I’ve been harmed by them and healing takes a lot of time. I have learnt some very important lessons, mainly due to my Orthodox faith. If you have experienced harm or been hurt in… Continue reading
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Connecting With My Roots
I have written a lot about being adopted, life as a Disabled person and my faith. I want to share a little more about myself. Having been put up for adoption, there was very little background on my biological family in the file and it only included my birth mother’s information. I met my biological… Continue reading
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Lessons Learnt Through Television
What TV shows did you watch as a kid? My favourite tv show was The Facts of Life. As a girl growing up in the 70s and 80s, The Facts of Life taught me things that were often taboo topics. While every episode was entertaining of course, they each taught me very important lessons. Not… Continue reading
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Trying to Find A Balance
When I was young, I couldn’t wait to become “older”. I knew I would get an education, hopefully a job and of course there would be bills to pay. But how prepared was I for the “real” world? As an adult there have been so many times I wanted to slam on the breaks and… Continue reading
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Fighting for Equality
It has been some time since I have had a chance to write. As a Deaf person, I have spent the greater time of my life fighting against discrimination. It seems this fight is never-ending. I have spent the past 2.5 years fighting for my basic rights for access to an important communication method which… Continue reading
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Inclusion in the Church – Part 24
Disabled people provide a powerful message to others through their bodies. Their physical presence is a way of preaching and living the Gospel. In every community, the presence of disabled people in leadership, theological studies and missionary work break through historically influenced stereotypes that exist within the Church. Their presence becomes a strong force of… Continue reading
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Inclusion in the Church – Part 23
Missionary organizations need to rip up their stereotypical criteria sheet and welcome disabled people into the missionary field. It is only by doing this, that barriers will be shattered, just as the friends of the disabled man who tore off the roof of the house where Jesus was teaching, motivated by faith. We need to… Continue reading
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Inclusion in the Church – Part 22
We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to… Continue reading
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Inclusion in the Church – Part 21
Joni Eareakson Tada, who had a diving accident in 1967 at the age of 17 which left her a complete quadriplegic, has spoken about her experience in outreach missionary work. Joni and Friends is an outreach ministry that provides wheelchairs to those in need in developing countries. Amongst other specialized ministries, this organization reaches into… Continue reading
Dr Kelly Fleming 