This post was recently posted on SNT. I am posting it here as I think it contains a message. NOTE: While SNT takes a very strong stand against messages beging posted elsewhere (to protect people's privacy), the one who posted it on SNT is permitting me to post it elsewhere.

My brother Kevin thinks God lives under his bed. At least that's what I heard him say one night. He was praying out loud in his dark bedroom, and I stopped outside his closed door to listen. Are you there, God?" he said. Where are you? Oh, I see. Under the bed." 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 Claus 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 speculates loudly on the destination of each passenger 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 worries that one-day they may not be. His hands are diligent.

Kevin is never so happy as when he is working. When he unloads the dishwasher or vacuums the carpet, his heart is completely in it. He does not shrink from a job when it is begun, and he does not leave a job until it is finished. But when his tasks are done, Kevin knows how to relax. He is not obsessed with his work or the work of others.

His heart is pure. He still believes everyone tells the truth, promises must be kept, and when you are wrong, you apologize instead of argue. Free from pride and unconcerned with appearances, Kevin is not afraid to cry when he is hurt, angry or sorry. He is always transparent, always sincere. And he trusts God. Not confined by intellectual reasoning, when he comes to Christ, he comes as a child. Kevin seems to know God-to really be friends with Him in a way that is difficult for an "educated" person to grasp. God seems like his closest companion.

In my moments of doubt and frustrations with my Christianity, I envy the security Kevin has in his simple faith. It is then that I am most willing to admit that he has some divine knowledge that rises above my mortal questions. It is then I realize that perhaps he is not the one with the handicap----I am. My obligations, my fear, my pride, my circumstances-----they all become disabilities when I do not submit them to God.

Who knows if Kevin comprehends things I can never learn? After all, he has spent his whole life in that kind of innocence, praying after dark and soaking up the goodness and love of God. And one day, when the mysteries of heaven are opened, and we are all amazed at how close God really is to our hearts, I'll realize that God heard the simple prayers of a boy who believed that God lived under his bed. Kevin won't be surprised at all!

FRIENDS ARE ANGELS WHO LIFT US TO OUR FEET WHEN OUR WINGS HAVE TROUBLE Author unknown

Becoming as little children, nothing at all to do with being childish, but the very things Kevin displays.

Only conversion that is called very rare, can do that. It takes detailed persistant prayer, focus upon the Sermon on the Mount from Scripture cross referenced with COL - lessons & the SOP explanations, boiled down & made simple & prayed to recieve and tutored how to apply. Without personal application God does not send it. Agape and childlike faith & attitude are the main ingredients, and the conscious innocence of Jesus, coming from Jesus - implanted within as a result of specific repeated requests - gives anew childlikeness of spirit that is that rare thing called Biblical conversion.

But it does exist - it does happen - it can be reproduced inside anyone when the steps are taken to get it - it can be retained - as long as the steps are taken that safegard & nurture it.

I went that route in 1991-2, then allowed self pity & anger to short circuit things & let go of that spiritual childlikeness within functioning adulthood. It was a time of unalloyed happiness and companionship with God & simplehearted outreach to others. I need to commit my self to seeking God to regain that. Too much of that is a dim memory, instead of abiding experience.

Kevin is far closer to God in his experience according to the limits of his capacities than we are. He's using all he's got the opportunity to get, I realize I'm not. How about it folks, shouldn't we be spiritual "Kevins" dedicating our focus to companionship with God, even though we are adults and carry those levels of responsibilities.

I want my heart and attitude and faith and quality of focus back at Kevin level. I am going to start seeking that - the good news is Jesus is the Teacher, Instructor, Tutor. His abiding experience is reproducable in me, as much as I can hold - no matter how much or how little. My being full is His desire, not the absolute preset volume of anyother measure - just my being full as much as I can hold today.

Thanks Gregory, tell Kevin that he has a friend who also loves God too. Once I rode alot on planes, and went a lot of places, but God always loves to ride in my heart - as often as I want Him there. He rides there just like riding in a seat in those planes.

Like the Christian Edition sang...

"loving God, loving each other, making music with my friends.....loving God, loving each other...and the story never ends,....and the story never ends."

I need to clairfy a point. At the time I posted this I thought that the person who posted it on SNT was talking about her brother. However, that person has informed me that she read this message on another web-site. If I had realized that, I would have clearly stated so when I posted it here. In any case, I consider it to be a beautiful story, that has a real message.

Thank you for your comment, Ed.

I have had the pleasure of reading this before.
It came in a daily devotional I get through e-mail from one ofthe many Christian sites on the web, don't remember which one at the moment.

If I remember correctly, the author was the sister of Kevin.

Makes you sit up and take notice, we need to come to God the same way Kevin does, simple faith, and trust in Him.