Something to Give

I’ve shared it before, but I was just thinking about it again.  I use words we can a understand as I believe in reaching as many as possible without exclusion.  It is the same when it comes to wheelchair access and a multitude of things that exclude if allowed.
A friend of mine was a part of a singing group.  He had a beautiful voice.  And he had polio.  His walking ability was limited but he could walk unassisted when needed.  He was gradually getting worse.  The leader of the group decided the group needed to practice up some stairs.  With one stroke my friend was excluded.  As far as I was concerned the singing group was the lesser for it.
I knew he and his wife fairly well.  I know he had a heap of other abilities too.  But one of the things closest to his heart was denied him, and as far as I could see it did not need to be.
I will never forget that guys first trip to my place.  He saw my fish tanks and started talking the talk.  It turned out we shared an interest in tropical fish.  He was still not keen though to give one of my fish that had obviously jumped out of my tank long ago (rigamortus had set in) mouth to mouth.  I was with him when he purchased 10,000 worms.  They all escaped.  Tunnelled underground.
The point for me is life is not about disability but ability.  I know the world can change in an instant.  Things once taken for granted are no longer an option.  There is an ad on tv at the moment and I love the words “close is far.”  It is true.  New ways of adapting are needed.  My bro had a worse stroke than I did, which limited his options big time.  But he still had his mind.  He was probably the most patient man I ever met.  He did things that I could only marvel at.  Yet his quality of life had suffered.  He was ready for home when he went there.  Disability would be a thing of the past.
I personally feel it is grossly unfair to limit people when there is no real need.  Value to me is not just defined by physical ability or otherwise but by contribution.  To me many can make a valuable contribution despite limitations that all too often see them written off.  It is true that often allowances and special arrangements need to be made, but often that gets easier the more it is done.  Eventually it is not seen as an insurmountable obstacle, but a minor inconvenience at worst.
I personally feel it is the able bodied with limited foresight that miss out.  People have so much to give.  Maybe they do not look and act like others, but that makes them no lesser  person.
Everyone has something to give.  In some instances, it is harder to find than in others.  But it is worth the search.  We all need to be affirmed.  One talent developed is better than 10 talents squandered.  Many just need opportunity.  One loyal follower with an ability is worth ten talented people who see me as a means only to their own ends.