With just about 2 months until I take off for the World Race… On June 10th I was confronted with my first “last.” It was my first realization that this may be the last time I do this and my first goodbye to an amazing group of people. It is certainly a blessing to have a life that is hard to pack up and leave. As the goodbyes become more frequent I just pray that God continues to give me the courage to jump off this cliff into the unknown for His glory.
Each month our youth host a dance for mentally and physically handicapped adults in our community. It is called “Checkerboard” since the floor of our Fellowship Hall has checkered tiles. Guests from all different group homes and facilities reunite on the dance floor for a few hours of dancing and the ever popular snack. I love seeing the guests lined up to pay their Quarter, eager to get out there and boogie with their friends. I count Checkerboard as a highlight of our ministry because these guests have become a highlight of my month and my friends.
They are group of characters… Michael has been the DJ for 20 years. Jimmy comes each month in a full suit and has some pretty smooth dance moves. We have a Checkerboard gangsta who requests rap. Walter always takes two snacks no matter who is policing the one snack per guest policy. Amy delivers a hug to everyone she meets and is also a friend to the Stars (Kevin Bacon to be exact). We even have an Elvis impersonator who recruits us to be backup singers each month for his big performance. Through the years I have sang more than a few backstreet boys numbers, participated in many a conga line, and been hugged more times that I can count.
Pam is a new friend of mine this year and the one who brought me to tears. I knew who Pam was from Checkerboard but she wasn’t in my posse from high school. This fall, when I was still chasing the grad school dream, I was doing observation hours with an Occupational Therapist at the facility where
Pam lives. We were setting up residents in their wheelchairs with a digital camera operated by a big button so they could take pictures of her friends. Coincidentally, that day was Pam’s turn. I asked if she remembered me from checkerboard she almost fell out of her wheel chair with excitement. I got to spend an hour watching her take pictures of people who didn’t want to have their picture taken and letting out a maniacal laugh.
The next Checkerboard we established that we both have a love of country music. From that point on I would request a country song monthly and take Pam for a spin around the dance floor. During my last Checkerboard I decided Pam was who I would spend my time with. I requested our monthly song, which led to the twist and shout, and the dance party finished almost an hour later pushing Pam around so she could lead the conga line. When it was time for her to leave she began motioning that she wanted to hug me. When she got me over to her, she maneuvered her hand over to her assistive speaking device and the computerized voice said, “I love you.” Even with my squeaky choked-up voice I managed to say “I love you too.”
Pam is what Checkerboard is all about… the love of Jesus shining through unlikely friendships. I don’t know where I will be on the second Sunday of the month next year, but I know what will be going on at Checkerboard.
