Peas and Carrots

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him. – John 9:1-4

Meet Ray, a kind-hearted, gentle teenage boy who happens to be mute and autistic. Even though he faces some challenges, he’s navigating the teen years like any other boy. It’s a joy to work with him!

Then there’s Myles, a sweet and charismatic high school senior who dedicates her time to supporting Ray and other autistic students. She’s a real gem and a keeper, learning and growing in this journey.

And then there’s me, a paraprofessional—fancy title aside, I’m here to happily serve, support, encourage, and comfort those with autism. In this case, it’s our energetic friend Ray.

In art class, it’s like peas and carrots—Myles and Ray sit side by side. She listens while he fidgets, and I make sure everything runs smoothly. So, let me tell you what happened.

One day, a pretty girl walked by (at least I thought she was cute!). In an instant, Ray went from calm to bouncing off the walls. For reasons only God understands, anxiety swept over him, turning our sweet, mild-mannered boy into a hyperactive ball of energy. He started bouncing up and down in his seat like a rubber ball.

We had a new challenge: Ray’s voice became loud and excited. It seemed like nothing could calm him down. Myles was understandably a bit panicked—there was no time to think!

I always tried to stay calm but knew we needed to act fast.

“Myles, let’s get him out of here. Time for a walk, Ray!”

We slipped out of the classroom as quietly as possible, but with Ray bouncing around, it felt like a circus act. So, off we went! Myles was on one side, I was on the other, and Ray was in the middle, hopping and bouncing down the hall. Myles, who stands at just five-foot-two, was doing her best to keep pace with Ray while trying to hold onto him. Her arms flailed as she supported him, and I could see her anxiety rising as his energy skyrocketed.

Students in the nearby classrooms turned their heads to see what was happening, and other teachers quickly closed their doors to escape the noise.

“Ray, calm down!

Stop jumping, buddy!

and

Whoa, hold your horses, Ray!“

We were on our unintentional wacky adventure down the hall. Ray’s excitement grew, and I saw that Myles was looking to me for guidance and reassurance amidst the chaos. However, I was sending up silent prayers, hoping for some peace.

“Dear Jesus, please bring Your calm to Ray. Help quiet his mind, body, and emotions.”

Feeling the nudging of the Holy Spirit, I decided to pause our little parade. Ray’s bouncing slowed but didn’t completely stop. I gently leaned closer to him, trying to establish a connection. Our eyes locked, and I could see him starting to relax as he focused on me.

With Myles capturing my attention, I kept my gaze on Ray. As I drew him closer, we connected physically and on a deeper, spiritual level, forehead to forehead, eye to eye. We shared a beautiful silence for a few precious moments, and I felt as if I were being guided by something much greater than myself.

Finally, I stepped back. Ray was calm and relaxed, and I could feel the shift in the atmosphere. Myles released her grip on his shoulder, but I gently rested my hand to guide him back.

As we walked back to class, everything felt different. We had transformed into a different trio: On the starboard side, Cool; in the middle, calm; holding the port side, Content.

I glanced back at Myles and caught her eye. The look on her face asked, “Mr. Terry, what just happened?”

“Myles, you just witnessed the amazing power of prayer through Jesus Christ. It’s the same today and tomorrow and has always been.”