Do you happen to have a costume laying around?
In March of this year, an autistic boy living in Thailand facing the “first day of school fears,” climbed on to a balcony putting himself in danger.
His teacher could not coax him off the balcony.
His mother could not coax him back to safety.
Firefighters arrived with their ladders and one firefighter overheard the mother sharing with the boy’s teachers how her son loved superheros, particularly Spiderman. Thinking quickly, ran back to the firehouse where he kept costumes that he used to “liven up” local parades….and he just happened to have a Spiderman costume. He pulled off his firefighters gear and put the costume on, running back to try something new to coax the boy off the balcony.
And of course, he did just that with “Spiderman is here to save you!”
Are there any children perched on the balconies in your view?
What would you be willing to do to save them?
Got any superhero costumes laying around?
How about just some time to talk with them, look them in the eyes, affirm their fears and hopes?
How about time to listen?
Today — May 2, 2009 — would have been my late Aunt Doris’ 80th birthday. She passed a few years ago. She was not a “touchy, feely” person, rarely showed her true emotions. But she was a superheroine to me as a child because she was always there. I made it out onto a few ledges, a few balconies while she was alive. She had a special knack for calling just when the wind was blowing the hardest. And, of course, the balconies were no match to her presence.
As an adult, the danger of the balcony is still real….and yet still no match to the power of her memory.
I hope that you have a few costumes ready. They come in handy. I hope that you will be willing to dress yourself in love, in laughter, in acceptance, in strength — and linger near the balconies that endanger our children.
Thank you, Spiderman. Bless you, Wonder Woman!
A Voice In Ramah 