The Wheelchair Minister

Speaking in tongues

If you ever want to start a heated theological discussion, just bring up the subject of “speaking in tongues” and there will likely be no lack of conversation.  It can be very controversial.  To discuss the merits for or against the Biblical concept of tongues is NOT the subject at hand.  I merely want to start your thinking for what is below.

This week our pastor was talking about a visit he made early on in ministry.  The visit was to a facility that cared for the severely disabled. He wanted to see it because he had heard such good things about their care for people who could not care for themselves.

A good number of the residents were bed-ridden, or at least limited in their mobility.  Many of them required constant care throughout the day.  That was their life.

The administrator who was conducting the tour relayed a story of one wheelchair bound resident.  This person was non-verbal except for some unintelligible sounds.  But he had a routine that he performed every night.  He would start at one end of the facility and visit each resident’s room, place his hand on their arm, and make those gutteral sounds for about 30 seconds, then move on to the next room.  This was his way of connecting with each person there.  The administrator said that he had most likely learned this from a visiting chaplain sometime that had done this for him.  It must have made such an impression that it started this “ministry” to the residents.

Neither the staff nor the resident  visited ever knew what was being said.  And I won’t try to convince you that this was a “prayer” in the traditional sense.  But, just the same, this man confined to a wheelchair was doing a service for each one of his housemates.  It was his way of bringing them comfort.

Speaking in tongues?  Maybe yes, maybe no.  

But it does make one think, doesn’t it?  If this person of such limited ability can provide this example of love for others, how much more could we do with our abundance of abilities.  It humbles me to think that I do even a fraction of what he is doing for his neighbors.  

1 Cor 13:8 says “Love never fails.”  May it be so with me.