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My son David and I were house hunting and exploring Dallas in advance of our move here, wondering what it would be like for us to live here. When I visit places alone, I’m not surprised to be welcomed and invited back. With David, it’s not so easy. First impressions usually focus on his crutches and short stature, perhaps his thick lens and blind eye or misshapen hands and body. Often spoken greetings to him go by ignored – not because he is asocial, but because he is profoundly Deaf and converses in American Sign Language (ASL). It is easy for people to greet him, politely thank him for coming, and quietly let him leave without an invitation back.
So we decided to see how Dallasites were going to treat us. We got out of the car and went in to what we hoped would be a friendly situation. After a customary verbal greeting, one of the men in charge knelt at David’s level and gave him a welcome smile, handshake, and hug. We were amazed. We went in, and found seats near the sign interpreters. We were excited to think that both David and I could participate.
That first visit to Lovers Lane Church turned out to be an experience that changed our lives. Since then, we have come to appreciate the acceptance we have found here. The people of Lovers Lane have shown us that our lives have meaning, to them and to God. David is an interesting “litmus test.” It is wonderful that Lovers Lane has welcomed David so warmly, but more importantly has given David the dignity and privilege of service to others, as one of dozens of Lovers Lane volunteers at Burnett Elementary School in Dallas. In 2002, David helped represent Lovers Lane on a mission trip to Kenya, and is planning to do the same in Ecuador in the summer of 2004.
At Lovers Lane, David was welcomed and embraced as if he was a child of God… which, of course, he is. We all are. But Lovers Lane makes this clear by the accessibility to the Deaf and those with special needs. Jesus set the example for us, reaching out to the “the least of these.” At times, it is hard to determine who is “the least of these” - who is the blessing and who is the blessed. At Lovers Lane, we are both.
