I wanted Normal but Normal didn’t want me. I didn’t understand this. It really unsettled me. One day I talked to Normal: “Why didn’t you want me?” I asked. Normal replied: “Because normal is not normal anymore.” Perplexed, I asked what that meant. She said: “Normal was normal a long time ago. When people were first created, they were normal. Their life was centered on caring and loving one another.  However, when they got to be rich and interested in achievement and in material things, their normalcy left them.” “So, being disabled is normal then?” I asked being completely confused. “Well, yes and no,” Normal responded with a reflective tone. “Some normal people are still normal while others are not.” “What does that mean?” I questioned her. She said, “Some normal people haven’t forgotten why they were created. They have lots of compassion that hasn’t been diluted by society.” ”Why couldn’t I be one of them?” I protested. “Because,” Normal said in a soft, kind way, “I need you to be disabled. It’s the only way for the ‘normal’ people to understand what life is all about.” I felt very humble and important in knowing that I have a special job to do.

But then I asked her something that was very troubling to me. “You know there are lots of disabled people who don’t like being disabled. They even push aside other disabled people and have a feeling of superiority to those who are less intelligent or have different disabilities than they have.” Normal said that was one of the problems that bothered her. She said: “Disabled people don’t understand their gift. It seems like they want to be normal which is what is destroying their mission.”  “Well, what can be done about it?” I said. Normal said: “Only when disabled people can embrace each other and learn that they are here for each other.

The last thing she said really was profound. “Being disabled is nature’s highest honor.”