Noble Spirit

David's body has grown bigger and stronger, but his mind is still behind, trapped inside the prison of autism. His ability to communicate is severely limited and his functioning is impaired by odd behaviors, emotional outbursts and limited understanding. Even so, his disabled body is home to a mature, noble spirit. A spirit so valiant he doesn't need the saving ordinances because his exaltation is already secure.

The Spirit taught me this truth while I was doing an endowment session in the Salt Lake Temple.

As I sat in the endowment room waiting to go through the veil, I had an interesting impression. I imagined Emma, my second child, was all grown up and sat beside me (Skye had not been born yet). I rejoiced in this image and looked forward to the day when Emma would join me in the temple. But then I felt a slight sense of concern.

Where was my David?

Why wouldn't he be a part of this impression?

I closed my eyes hoping to feel something of his presence. I opened them and looked around.

Why wouldn't he be in the endowment room with us?

Was this just one more experience he couldn't be a part of?

Slowly it dawned on me he didn't need to be there.

He was on the other side of the veil.

Already in the presence of God.

Waiting for us to join him.

Importance of Nature

 

" . . . to us people with special needs, nature is as important as our own lives. The reason is that when we look at nature, we receive a sort of permission to be alive in this world, and our entire bodies get recharged. However often we're ignored and pushed away by other people, nature will always give us a good, big hug, here inside our hearts."

Higashida, Naoki. (2013). The Reason I Jump:The Innner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy With Autism. New York:Random House.