Drawing Attention
to God
By Dr Mike Townsend, Chair of Trustees
I went to a special promenade concert on Bank Holiday
Monday. The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra was
joined by the ‘Resound’ disabled ensemble. The conductor,
James Rose, has cerebral palsy and uses a head mounted
baton. My friend, who is a blind oboe player, said she could
hear his head movements.
I was a treble choir boy soloist, but my talent as a teenager
was running. Do you remember the London Paralympics? If
they’d been around when I was young, I would have held
some world records. When I preached at the Radio Four
Sunday morning Paralympic service in 2012, the producer
told me about the programme he had made for the
Saturday evening, all about ‘dwarf hurling!’ I didn’t quite
know what to say, but listened. It sounded like a lot of fun.
The participants being ‘thrown’ bubbled over with the
excitement. There were comments about exploitation. But
the dwarfs (their own preferred terminology in the
programme) said “why shouldn’t we enjoy ourselves?”
This all came back to me on Sunday when the BBC
headlines stated that some venues, including one near
where I live in Leicester, were being sued by the
participants for canceling their ‘Dwarf Wrestling’ events.
“We have as much right to make a living as non-disabled
people!” one declared.
I asked myself the question, “what is the difference
between dwarf wrestling, wheelchair basketball, and my
own other sport, blind jujitsu?” Each activity has a very
different history and goal, but in all of them, people are
(hopefully!) enjoying themselves, entertaining others, and
drawing attention to the skills and reality of disabled
people.
People, though they enjoyed the music, will remember the
conductor with cerebral palsy using a head baton. When I
take services and preach, I know that folk remember what I
say because they talk to me about the message. Hopefully,
this is because God has inspired what I do. But I am in no
doubt that my blindness and my guide dog stand out and
grab people’s attention. Jesus told the parable of the
talents, and I will use any talent or disability to stand out,
and to share the love of Jesus. I currently help lead a
church – a colleague, out of the blue, said to me the other
day, “I don’t think of you as a disabled person”.
Our disabilities should not be our main feature. But, if
disability helps, then let’s use it!
“To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have
become all things to all men so that by all possible means I
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Mike, before speaking at the BBC Paralympic Service
might save some.” (1 Corinthians 9.22).
“The man who had received the five talents brought the
other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five
talents. See, I have gained five more.’
His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.
You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in
charge of many things. Come and share your master’s
happiness.’” (Matthew 25.20-21).
Enjoy using your talents for Jesus!
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