Truncated Domes and the Church

A few years ago, the city of Bend underwent a massive project which included replacing sidewalk curb ramps with sidewalk curb ramps. The arguably wasteful project was the outcome of a settlement between the US Dept. of Justice and the city of Bend in 2004, which resulted from a 2001 lawsuit introduced by four disabled Bend residents, claiming our city had failed to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The new ramps had yellow bumps (“truncated domes”) instead of gray scored concrete, and I remember commenting to my neighbors how silly it was, even though at the time I was pushing my son to the park in a wheelchair. Ironically, we avoided the new ramps because they made it harder to push the wheelchair up the ramp. Despite my scoffing, I’ve since learned that truncated domes are appreciated and used by blind pedestrians.

It’s easy to argue that spending a large amount of money to help a small minority is wasteful or unwise. Why not spend those dollars to hire extra police officers or fix deteriorating roads? I’m certain these issues caused some intense city council meetings, and I’m glad I had no part in them.

But this article isn’t about the controversy surrounding truncated domes. It’s about how the church should consider and care for those with disabilities.

Eagerness

First, we should be eager to spend time, money and energy on people with special needs. Why? Because this is God’s heart:

• “God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Cor 9:7)

• “Don’t neglect to show hospitality.” (Heb 13:2)

• “Be hospitable to one another without complaining.” (1 Pet 4:9)

Abundance

Second, we should realize that we are able to give out of abundance, because our father in heaven is filthy rich.

• “And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:19)

• “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him.” (Matt 7:11)

Christlikeness

Finally, we need to understand that we can more effectively communicate the gospel when we lay down our lives like Christ did for us.

• “No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

• “He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything?” (Rom 8:32)

At Foundry Church, we have a room downstairs that gets very little use. It’s called a “sensory room,” and it’s filled with equipment intended to provide a comforting space for children with special needs. Although this space could be used more frequently for other things, the heart behind creating the room was to be hospitable to families whose needs are often not considered in church buildings.

Foundry’s sensory room

Jesus said, in Luke 15:7, “There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who don’t need repentance.” That’s the mindset that might result in scantly-used curb ramps or sensory rooms—the mindset of a shepherd who cherishes one lost sheep as much as all the others.

Can our church do more to show Christ’s love for those with disabilities? Absolutely. And it starts with an eagerness to give, an abundance mindset, and a sacrificial heart—a heart like Christ’s.

For more from this series on disabilities, see here and here, and don’t hesitate to check out the sensory room downstairs next Sunday!