The new emphasis of our work to support families with Special Needs has a funny name: Village Initiative with Parents. You may wonder why we chose it when it can lead to misunderstanding.
Well, number one, the initials VIP are shorthand for Very Important People. Let's face it, not many of us think that moms and dads are VIPs and we certainly do NOT think kids with Special Needs are VIPs. So, we are subtly trying to get the message across that they are Very Important People.
Secondly, we are piggybacking on the African Village saying that, "It takes a whole village to raise a child." Mrs. Hilary Clinton made that proverb world famous with her book on supporting children. Many of my friends and supporters do not like her and President Clinton and warned me not to use it but I was very familiar with it before Hilary popularized it. I am also not afraid of Democrats.
Here is what it means to me. A village indicates a small, close net group of individuals and families who live, work, play and worship together. The Malay word I learned in Singapore was Kampung. In my Kampung of Ina, Illinois-population 300-everybody knew everybody and all our business. we also knew each others problems and issues and needs. This is both good and bad.
It was good because we helped each other out. The Bible verse that says, "Bear one anothers burdens and thereby fulfill the work of Christ" comes close to mimicking the Village proverb and we did that often in my house. It means to help each other with loads too great to carry alone. It does not mean to do for others what they are called to do for themselves. We were imperfect but we discussed those things and tried to be helpful.
One of the most important things a village does is provide emotional and spiritual support while also doing practical deeds of neighborliness. We went to church together and enjoyed festivals together and, in my house, attended wakes and funerals together.
I was never attracted to that last part. I did not like being around dead people and sad events. But I had no choice. My parents were champion funeral and wake attenders. My mom sang at most and dad was a Deacon who knew everybody in two or three counties. Besides, the widows and parents of the deceased needed our love, compassion and presence. I learned to really appreciate grief work.
Presence. That is key. It is, in fact, the most important part of a healing and a loving community. Let's face it. We cannot bring the dead person back or heal the sick ourselves, but by our presence we offer hope, support and love. Nothing beats presence. As they say, "Showing up is half the job". Nope, I would say it is worth more than that.
Here is my point: It is essential in the 21st Century to develop INTENTIONAL COMMUNITY because we no longer have spontaneous communities. All small churches want to get big and all big churches want to get small. So, I am committed to building a kampung or an intentional community of loving, caring praying people who are willing to be PRESENT with the families with special needs.
I believe that substantial growth and healing is possible only within a community;a kampung, a village. We are going to use every digital, human, relational, written and visual tool possible but we are going to build caring relationships. We will add action steps of practical assistance but they must always arise out of care and understanding not a robotic, mechanical bureaucracy.
So, we are The Village; a community; a group of people who care and relate and who are friends. It will take a whole village to care for these families and we will do our best to spread the good news. Vote for us at Cincinnati Innovates.
Want to learn more? Go to our web site.
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