No Insurance Policy for Love

May 07, 2012 by Joseph Susanka

Continued from Page 1

There is a grave danger in seeing ourselves as the final arbiters of another's happiness, worrying that an obstacle they face may prevent them from living an "ordinary" life while failing to recognize the extraordinary gift their presence is to so many.

My cousins bring immeasurable joy and light to their parents, to their families, and to many others who cross their path. Countless autistic, trisomic, and mentally disabled people live meaningful, joyful lives; they remind us that happiness is not health-qualified; that the ability to be a vital, transformative member of human society is not something that is won (or lost) on the basis of our chromosomes.

These gentle souls often see the world with an otherworldly clarity, and pass its beauty on to the distracted and obsessive rest of us. Despite the undeniable trials and challenges that face those who care for them, these "throw-away-people" are uniquely suited to bringing out the best in humanity.

Truly, they are blessings in disguise; we forget that we are never as in control as we want to think we are. The One who is responsible for the building and the shaping of their bodies is never cheated. He does not deal in "defective parts," but in parts that we able-bodied members are too small-minded, near-sighted to recognize for their true worth.

There are no defective humans—at least not in ways that truly matter. There are only those that we deem defective. And may God forgive us for that.

(Ocean Heaven is available through Netflix's Watch Instant service.)

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About Joseph Susanka

Joseph Susanka has been doing development work for institutions of Catholic higher education since his graduation from Thomas Aquinas College in 1999. He blogs at Crisis Magazine, where he also contributes feature articles on a variety of topics.

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