This past Sunday was one of those unusually nice winter days in Pennsylvania. The sky was mostly clear and the temperature was a mild 42 degrees. There was no wind to speak of. It was the kind of day that begged us to get out of the house and engage nature. So we did!
Here in Lancaster and Lebanon Counties, Pennsylvania, we are blessed with the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area. Owned and operated by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, this 5,000 + acres of land include forests, farmland, hiking trails and a 400 acre lake. As the name implies it is a haven for wildlife of all kinds. Waterfowl, deer, pheasants, quail, grouse, small game and much, much more call this place home.
The locals refer to this place as "The Project", short for Project 70 which was a government program that funded the purchase of these lands in the late 1960's and early 1970's. When it first opened to the public I checked it out and immediately fell in love. It has held a special place in my heart ever since. When my wife and I were dating I introduced her to it and she shared my enthusiasm. After having moved out of the area for too many years we returned "home" in 2005 and now reside less than five miles from the Project.
Typically one would expect a Wildlife sanctuary to be a summer destination. However, there are many exciting things to do and see here in winter, too. During February and March the lake becomes a popular layover for tens of thousands of migrating snow geese, Canadian geese, and others. My wife, my special needs son and I took advantage of the weather, grabbed our field glasses and paid a visit there this afternoon.
It is difficult to describe the natural beauty of observing some 6,000 - 8,000 snow geese calmly swimming on a lake a mere 60 feet in front of you. There is the constant chatter of contented fowl creating a moderate buzz in the air. These magnificent birds clothed in pure white feathers with black-tipped wings seemingly form a huge iceberg as they float together in one large body. With the afternoon sun glistening upon them they form a striking image. A group of people numbering perhaps 50 or more stood quietly nearby, cameras and filed glasses in hand, reverently honoring this ancient ritual.
A. AN ONGOING STRUGGLE
As I observed this living drama I began to recognize a certain parable being played out before my eyes. I began to see a parallel between the migration of the snow geese and the journey that so many families face with their special needs loved one. The snow geese, like so many migrating birds, are natural adapters. Their life is far from static. They travel phenomenal distances in order to seek the best weather and food supplies required for their survival. It is not an easy life as they expend tremendous energy and every ounce of strength they can find to complete their semi-annual pilgrimage.
Families that live with disabilities likewise embark upon a long and challenging journey in search of ways to make their existence as meaningful and complete as possible. Like the geese that travel twice a year for the entire length of their lives, people with disabilities never find their journey complete. It is an ongoing struggle, 24/7/365.
B. THE NEED FOR RESPITE.
As incredible as these geese are in their ability to travel more than 3,000 miles twice a year, from their summer home in the Canadian tundra to their winter retreats in the southern regions of the United States, the trip is not a non-stop flight! Instead, these birds have their favorite resting stops where they love to get some R & R for a few days before continuing the trek. Since its creation in the early 1970's Middle Creek has been a 5-Star resort for these relentless nomads.
In a similar way caregivers of disabled persons need respite services. It is vitally important that they can entrust the care of their loved one to someone else for a few hours from time to time just so they can recharge and be renewed mentally and physically. The demands of providing for a son, a daughter, a parent or a spouse can prove to be overwhelming. Though many caregivers hate to admit it, the most loving thing they can do is allow someone else to take over periodically in order that they can do a little maintenance on themselves.
Respite services are not easy to come by. Friends and family members are busy and we do not want to be a burden to them. Agencies are few and far between. When they are found they also prove to be expensive. Agencies are also selective. That is to say they choose who they will and will not serve. This creates a terrible dilemma for the family of a challenging person because if the risks and the needs are too great many qualified respite providers simply will not assume the responsibility. They only want to care for the "easy" cases, the low risk, less intense clients. Consequently, the families that need respite the most are the very ones that are least likely to find it. This is a terrible injustice.
C. THE SAFETY FACTOR.
While we were using our field glasses to gain a close up view of the snow geese an amazing thing happened. As if rehearsed a thousand times under the direction of a conductor, the geese were suddenly aroused and began to take flight. Beginning at the far right edge of the floating mass every bird systematically engaged in a vertical lift off. It was as if someone took a hold of the white blanket and just created a ripple effect to shake it out. In the blink of an eye thousands upon thousands of birds were now flying as one huge low lying cloud. They passed directly over our heads and went a few hundred feet inland, then turned together as one and swept out over the lake, only about 75 feet above the surface of the water. They flew along the bank several hundred yards then veered left, went over the nearby tree tops, turned sharply once more and made another charge over our heads. The awesome display continued for about 5 minute or more, accompanied by loud honking and a whoosh of the wings. Then, almost as suddenly as it began they gracefully landed on the glassy surface of the lake once more.
An experienced bird watcher standing next to us explained that there was an eagle flying over head, and its presence was enough of a threat so as to unnerve the snow geese. We looked and sure enough, old Baldy was inspecting the territory carefully. In fact there were a total of three eagles there at once.
Persons with developmental disabilities are extremely vulnerable. Life for them is one huge danger zone. Each person is unique and their threats will vary accordingly, but the common denominator they all share is the need for safety precautions. Some cannot cross a street by themselves. Others are unable to handle their finances. They become easy game for unscrupulous predators.
Of course the most basic danger that threatens people with disabilities is their income. The unemployment rate among the disabled is 80% nationally. Those who do have a job typically receive minimum wage for a part time position. Of course, this also means there are no benefits such as health care and pension. So here we are: no income yet all the living expenses that confront all of us. Food, lodging, clothing, and transportation are not miraculously discounted for the disabled. So how are these expenses to be met? The answer lies with government programs such as Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Medical Assistance, food stamps and various waiver programs.
Herein is found one of the greatest predators to threaten the disabled: Budget Cuts! We are living in a time when one of the most heated public debates centers around the challenge to balance the Federal and State budgets. The "eagle" that hovers menacingly above the heads of the disabled, and all those living in poverty, takes the form of budget cuts. The very survival of these people depends on government sponsored assistance. Yet these are the very programs that are targeted by many as "excessive" and "wasteful". What is tragically ignored in the debate is the fact that the lives of millions of persons are at risk should these programs be diminished in any way.
D. COMMUNITY SUPPORT.
Our ornithologist expert at the Middle Creek Wildlife Area went on to explain how the snow geese protect the weakest and most vulnerable members of the community. The stronger birds surround the weaker member and literally hide it from the gaze of the predator.
Here is a powerful lesson for any society: Community support for the ones who cannot make it on their own is essential. What a simple yet effective idea! Would that man, supposedly the higher intellectual being, be as smart as these bird-brains! I seem to recall the founder of the Christian Faith promoting a similar thought. By his life and his teachings Jesus made the needs of the poor and the disabled a primary concern. When he clothed himself with a towel and humbly washed the feet of his disciples our Lord demonstrated the principle of meeting the needs of others (John 13). His challenge to the rich young ruler (Luke 18: 18 - 30) and his parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19 - 31) reveal the importance of mutual responsibility. In Galatians 6:2 Paul instructs us with this admonition: "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (NIV). The oft-quoted lesson of the Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31 - 46) summarizes the priority of the Kingdom of God about as well as any biblical passage with the words "whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me. (Matthew 25:40 NIV)."
The challenge before us is clear. We need to speak out on behalf of those who do not have a voice. We must become advocates for the disabled and the poor. It is our responsibility and duty to surround these wonderful, precious members of our community with love and material support so they will not be devoured by a cruel and heartless political agenda.
CONCLUSION:
I found it to be a bit ironic that the predator threatening the snow geese on that beautiful afternoon just happened to be a bald eagle. This same creature, so majestic and free, is the national bird of the United States and is frequently used to symbolize our government. Indeed, our government has the potential to destroy the lives of millions of disabled persons if we allow it to be controlled by the Almighty Dollar and the greedy, selfish forces that are seeking to take over Washington. On the other hand, our government also has the potential to demonstrate what constitutes true power and freedom by accepting the responsibility to care for "the least of these", surrounding them with protection and the means to survive.
Ultimately "the government" is in fact us. We elect the men and women who pass the budgets and set the policies. In a representative democracy like ours the system depends on the people speaking out and holding their officials responsible. As Abraham Lincoln said in his Gettysburg Address "...this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom - - and that government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the earth."
Now, nearly 150 years later, the ideal government envisioned by Lincoln has the opportunity to become a reality.
G. D. Gehr
February 9, 2012
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