Laura J. Davis

Have you ever asked the question, "What does God want me to do with my life?" I know I have, especially when I thought I had it all figured out. But, life happens and things changed and I was once again asking, "What does God want me to do with my life?" Unfortunately, I was asking the wrong question. I should have been asking, "What is God doing?" You see the difference right away. You can't miss it. It is no longer a self-serving question.  It is now geared  to serving God wherever He is working.

When I looked closer at my life to see where God was working, I realized that the frustration of not being able to walk faster than a snail, or dealing with infections in a leg that is starting to look more and more like a watermelon, could be my clue as to where God wanted me. And like a big lightbulb over my head that blinked on with a sputter -  "I saw the light".

If I had never fallen down those stairs 10 years ago and if my situation had not deteriorated to the point where I needed a walker, I would never have been aware of the difficulties and frustrations those with physical challenges go through on a daily basis. To be honest, I had recognized the problem with debit machines at the Metro checkout. My height alone prevented me from using them, which made me wonder how a person in a wheelchair managed. But, when I started trying to get my walker over curbs when there were no accessible sidewalks I became more aware. Then the day that I went to my favourite mall and discovered that most of the handicapped parking had been given over to "Mother's With Children", I just about blew a gasket right there. Pregant and nursing mother's with children were getting the spots that used to belong to the disabled? Something was wrong with this picture and I was fuming. I'm pretty sure that most of the disabled people I know didn't choose to be disabled. Whereas, most pregnant women had some say in the matter. That is when the light went on for me.

God wanted me aware of the trials of those with disabilities, so that I could be a voice. Once I realized that, everything else fell into place. I contacted the Canadian With Disabilities - Ontario region and joined their group. Hoping to help in some way. They generously accepted my help and have asked me to write a quarterly article for "A Voice of Their Own" a publication for the Council of Canadians with Disabilities. 

I am thrilled to be able to help in this way. So, if you start to hear more rants from me on the rights of the disabled, you'll know why.