Thursday, July 30
By Katherine Schneider, for the CVPost
Do you ever have that “Monday after the Miracle” feeling? After a big push, that feeling of “now what?”
In case you’re not old enough to remember, the phrase comes from a novel and a bio pic by William Gibson about Helen Keller’s life after the time depicted in his play “The Miracle Worker.” It’s about her daily life – for instance, such questions as “Can she have a boyfriend?” – beyond the amazing, wonderful, inspirational, saintly person people know about.
Participating in the build-up
My own version of this “Miracle” feeling was occasioned by all the build-up to the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). I participated in several ways, including writing text for an online exhibit at the UW-Eau Claire library about the ADA in the Chippewa Valley.
I also wrote a poem about the ADA. It is posted on the exhibit website and I read it aloud on the “American Portrait” website.
I wanted the 80% of people who don’t currently have a disability to become more aware of the ADA and to become allies in promoting it.
My efforts to help publicize the ADA’s 30th anniversary culminated with Zooming in for a chat with state Sen. Jeff Smith and two other disability advocates, and reading my poem on a Zoom connection for PBS’s “American Portrait”. Even though only one line of the poem was actually used on the PBS video Facebook page, 48,000 people saw it.
And on Instagram, the video was seen over 29,000 times.
For an introvert to be Zooming around advocating like a politician takes a lot of prayer, to center myself so I can be a worthy inclusive advocate. By inclusive I mean “here’s how to advocate with us,” not “shame on you for not doing more.”
Regroup and recoup
Now, with the anniversary observed, there will be the gatherings with friends where my only sound bites will be the sound of my teeth chewing a vegetarian supreme pizza.
Calvin, my noble Seeing Eye dog who endured all the computer work and Zooms, has plans for a game of chase with one of my shoes to let off steam.
As I regroup for the continuing years of advocacy, I’m praying “Sustain me o God” as it says in Psalm 119. I’m also reading John Lewis’s memoir Across that Bridge.
What an example he was of working for change lovingly. As he said: “We must be the change we seek if we are to effectively demand transformation from others.”
So I contemplate and invite you to contemplate “How will I be the change”?