December 4, 2013

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed. 2 Pet. 3:10

Be The Rapture

Today’s reading from Peter is often quoted as proof of the “Rapture,” when God will destroy the earth, taking only the “Rapture–Ready” souls up to heaven. Don’t take my word for this, take a look at http://www.raptureready.com/ for all the details. I want to re-imagine this idea and ask instead: Are you ready to BE the rapture for someone else?

I teach first grade in a public school, which has given me the opportunity to experience profound moments of  “daily rapture” right here on Earth. This year, we have been blessed to have a program for children with significant multiple disabilities who have joined our school. Most of these children are not ambulatory, and do not speak. They communicate with electronic devices, picture communication boards and sign language. It’s been a wonderful experience to have these children join our weekly first grade sing-along. They “sing” by moving in whatever way they can, vocalizing and sometimes even playing simple percussion instruments, such as jingle bells. They choose songs they would like the group to sing by using electronic devices or picture communication boards. 

But what is most important to me, and what touches me deeply, is that all of the children have become friends. They live in the present, working out ways to communicate and enjoy each other’s company using techniques and strategies that we adults could never actually teach them. For instance, we’ve all learned from watching Robert, a child from our first grade, become Jimmy’s partner. Jimmy and Robert hit it off from the first. Jimmy is usually seated in a wheelchair. He is not keen on his slippers, and often wrestles them off his feet. Robert is quick to pick them up. He will try to put them on Jimmy, only to have Jimmy smile and flip them off again. Robert happily picks them up yet again. I can’t think of a better example of Jesus’ imperative to serve each other!  No heavenly reward is needed for Robert and Jimmy, because for them, it is a joyful rapturous moment right here and right now on Earth. The pair also delights in looking at Robert’s communication book, where they find pictures of favorite songs to request, or they just enjoy flipping the pages together. Jimmy may not always like to be touched, but Robert doesn’t hesitate to grab Jimmy’s hand and help him play the jingle bells with abandon--and quite wonderfully--with Jimmy’s full consent.

Last week, we began rehearsing Frosty the Snowman for our holiday concert. During the concert, Jimmy or another child from his class will use an electronic device to light up a fiber-optic snowman while we all sing Frosty together. It’s a great moment when that child sees a visual cue, and moves his or her head or hand in order to flip a switch that lights up the snowman. I believe the souls of everyone in the room also light up at this time. This, for me, is a daily reminder that the Kingdom of God is here and now, and always includes everybody.

Knowing that we have only a couple of rehearsals before our concert, I recently asked all of my first graders to stand up, including Robert, who usually sits beside Jimmy’s wheelchair. I assumed that Robert could practice standing beside Jimmy, since he would be doing that during the concert. What I didn’t expect was Jimmy’s reaction. The minute Robert stood up, Jimmy reached out and grabbed Robert, to try to make him sit down again. Failing that, Jimmy started tapping Robert’s empty chair. I quickly gave permission for Robert to sit down. He did, but not before giving a huge hug to his distressed friend to comfort him. They went on happily, seated side by side as usual, quietly enjoying each other’s company.

This incident is not unique. At each weekly sing-along I witness small “rapturous” moments like this one. You can’t predict when they will happen. They are not exclusive; they include anybody and everybody. There are no rules to follow, and no set way to attain them. They are not about a heaven that is somewhere in a distant time and place. They are about heaven right here and right now. It seems to me that they only require two things: an open heart and a willingness to be totally present to another. 

Might not these qualities also be helpful for Advent? 

-Julie Mankowsky