"But let him ask in faith, with no doubt for he who doubts is like a wave on the sea driven and tossed by the wind." James 1:6

*FAITH leads us beyond ourselves. It leads us directly to GOD.

*Believers face the same pressures as unbelievers, but they face them with FAITH instead of fear.

I would rather live by faith

In the middle of it all

Enjoying all the blessings

He promised would befall.

I would rather live by faith

Where His power is displayed

And bear witness to the miracles

Manifested when I pray.

Not a sorry spectator

Huddled on a bench,

But a player out upon the field,

In showers getting drenched.

I would rather live by faith

And see what will ensue

Through obedience and trusting;

There's no telling what He will do!

I giggled softly and tiptoed off to my own room.  Kevin's unique perspectives are often a source of amusement.  But that night something else lingered long after the humor.  I realized for the first time the very different world Kevin lives in.

He was born 30 years ago, mentally disabled as a result of difficulties during labor.  Apart from his size (he's 6-foot-2), there are few ways in which he is an adult.  He reasons and communicates with the capabilities of a 7-year-old, and he always will. He will probably always believe that God lives under his bed, that Santa Clause is the one who fills the space under our tree every Christmas and that airplanes stay up in the sky because angels carry them.

I remember wondering if Kevin realizes he is different.  Is he ever dissatisfied with his monotonous life?  Up before dawn each day, off to work at a workshop for the disabled, home to walk our cocker spaniel, return to eat his favorite macaroni-and-cheese for dinner, and later to bed.  The only variation in the entire scheme is laundry, when he hovers excitedly over the washing machine like a mother with her newborn child.  He does not seem dissatisfied.  He lopes out to the bus every morning at 7:05, eager for a day of simple work. He wrings his hands excitedly while the water boils on the stove before dinner, and he stays up late twice a week to gather our dirty laundry for his next day's laundry chores.

And Saturdays, oh the bliss of Saturdays!  That's the day my Dad takes Kevin to the airport to have a soft drink, watch the planes land, and speculate loudly on the destination of each pasenger inside.  "That one's goin' to Chi-car-go!" Kevin shouts as he claps his hands.  His anticipation is so great he can hardly sleep on Friday nights.

And so goes his world of daily rituals and weekend field trips.  He doesn't know what it means to be discontent.  His life is simple.  He will never know the entanglements of wealth or power, and he does not care what brand of clothing he wears or what kind of food he eats.  His needs have always been met, and he never...