“Ask and it will be given, seek and you shall find, knock and the door will open.” ~ Matthew 7:7
Aliya sat at the kitchen table in her
bathrobe, bleary-eyed, looking down at the steaming cup of coffee. She’d been up most of the night with her autistic
son Allen. Life had been a
roller-coaster ride since the teen hit puberty.
Allen found it difficult to process everyday sensory stimuli. Too much information could cause him stress,
anxiety, and even physical pain. She and
her husband, David, never knew what might set off an explosion. They couldn't even enjoy church together.
With three other children and David often traveling for his
job, Aliya felt exhausted: finding it increasingly difficult to be both mother
and caregiver. She considered moving Allen
into a group home with staff that could better care for him, but quickly erased
that thought from her mind - it just didn't feel right.
Someone new was coming over from the support agency later
today, but honestly, Aliya’s hope was vanishing. She prayed for someone who would understand Allen’s
need for life to unfold at a predictable, well-ordered pace.
Later that morning, she and Allen greeted a soft-spoken
young man at their front door with an unfamiliar accent. His voice had a soothing quality that seemed
to put Allen at ease.
They all sat in the living room. "My name is Malik," the man said. "I cared for my mother in Africa until
she passed away, then I moved here because I’ve always wanted to live in America." He turned to Allen and started asking him some
questions.
Malik almost immediately started visiting 2-3 times a week.
An amazing transformation began taking place. Allen's anxiety diminished. Under Malik’s patient and skillful care, he emerged
as that lovable boy he’d been prior to his teenage meltdowns. If only Malik could help on Sundays too,” she
wondered. So, she asked him if he went
to church.
"I'm a Muslim," he said. "I worship at the local mosque."
"We need help with Allen in
church on Sundays," Aliya continued cautiously. "Would that be a problem for you?"
"That would be fine," Malik smiled. "I can worship God in your sanctuary as
well as in my mosque." “Of course, Aliya thought, why would God send us
someone who couldn't help us on Sundays?”
Now when Malik slips into the pew next to them on Sunday
mornings, Allen grabs his hand, trust that’s born of deep love and a sense that
they’re champions together.
She’s struck by the beautiful contrast in skin tones and by
the mysterious ways of this God we love.
God, our Comforter, and our Friend - rain
down on us. Baptize us with Your fire.
Guide us into all truth. Open the heavens wide and shower us with Your Holy
Spirit. Change us, renew us, empower us.
Amen
