I got the chance to hang out with a 15 year old boy that had
autism. Not too sever but you could definitely tell just by looking at him.
Most people don’t know how to treat people, let alone children with special
needs.
David laughed, cried, got upset when he took a hard fall, he
made others laugh, and David NEVER stopped trying. He understood everything you
said and if he didn’t he would be sure to ask you what something means. He
would always be sure to come to me after a nice ride and tell me all about it.
He knew what was safe and what wasn’t.
As the teens get the chance to go to San Onofre for a 4 day
camping trip, they have to hike a board up and down a very large and steep hill
twice a day if they wanted to, David did it every time. David is strong. He
swim 2 miles everyday and bowls a game over 100pts every game for the Special
Olympics. On the first night there was a very strong shore break at San O that
was pretty scary. It was a very rocky beach and dropped off pretty quick. So
the first 10 feet at all rocks that are sharp and lose then it gets sandy but
by that times its easier to just swim. David rode a wave all the way in but at
San O you want to bail out so you don’t have to get crush by the reforming wave
to break on the shore. David didn’t get told that so he is having a blast the
next minute I look over and he is getting crushed by the onshore breaks, and by
the time you stand up wipe your eyes off you get hit by another. David was
stuck. Hunter (our lifeguard) went out and pulled David all the way in and
pretty much saved David. What Hunter did right was stop and explain to David
what he should do, and not just say don’t do that. Hunter with great patience
explained to David what exactly was going on and that green waves were so much
better than white wash here. And before Hunter could finish he was starting to
run out, David NEVER gave up. Later when David paddled out to tell me, he had
the biggest smile and just laughed about it, and everyone else was able to see
what not to do but also that if it does happen that it will be okay.
Who cares about onshore breaks and David getting crushed but
if you think about it look at is as if the water was the world, or Satin, you
were David, and Hunter was God. Some times we feel like we keep getting beat
up, hurt, can’t stand up and the world or Satin just keep making you fall.
Hunter came in when he knew that you couldn’t do it by yourself. David as
suborn as he was let Hunter help him after a while, after David knew it was
getting dangerous. God will come in and help you, you just have to have faith
and keep trying until he does come.
Why does David matter? Why am I telling you this? Because no
matter what your condition is or what you have to deal with, whether it be a
disability or some kind of physical restriction, a disease, or emotional
disability, like depression or bi polar; you make matter and you make life what
you want it to be. David never gives up. David finds the fun in the hardest of
times. David can be you. David is not perfect and did have a melt down later
that weekend about something small but we all do. But David tries.
Stop living in fear, and take some risks. Have patience with
yourself, and have faith that the Lord will help you.