Graduation

A little more serious today...

It is that time of year.  Folks are graduating.  Here at work we have 2 of our kids graduating from high school.  For most any kid, this is an accomplishment.  For our kids, with all things considered, it borders on being a miracle.

For one of these kids, graduation is no big deal.  She is very intelligent and very well adjusted.  She, and everyone else, knew she would graduate and what she would do beyond graduation.  For her it was more a matter of whether or not she would finish in the top ten of her class.  She is simply here because her parents, and entire family for that matter, care more about drugs and getting that high than caring for her, an only child.  When this young lady first came to us she was a mess.  In the two years she has been here, we have very much witnessed the butterfly effect (no, not the movie).  She went into her cocoon and has now come out a beautiful butterfly.  She will be leaving us at the end of the month to go into an independent living program that will help prepare her for life on her own.  She will start college in the fall.  This young lady truly amazes me as she talks about how blessed she is.  She has no family, no one to depend on, no one to care for  her, she was horribly abused and neglected, and she considers herself blessed.  Talk about a walking talking example for all of us.  I am certain she will go on to great things.

For the other resident who is graduating, it is very much a big deal.  Graduation for him depended on how well he did on a history test last week.  Thankfully he made a C and will be able to graduate.  But that now leads to a bigger question.  What will he do next?  He also has no family to turn to.  His IQ is to low for him to go to an independent living facility.  He has already signed himself in to care until he is 20(when a child in state custody turns 18 they have the choice of leaving as soon as they turn 18 or staying until they turn 20, or leave custody, whichever comes first).  The problem with this is that the state requires a child that is in custody, over 18, and has finished high school to do one of 3 things.  1. Start college or technical school. 2. Find a job. 3. Move to an adult care facility or independent living facility.  That presents a major problem for this young man.  Like I said, he can't move to independent living.  He can't get into college.  He can't really go to the local technical college- he doesn't want to and if we forced him to he would just flunk out, plus, for the time being, they won't accept him because he has had a felony conviction in the past year.  His IQ is to high to move to an adult care facility (not to be funny at all, but I would argue that point with them).  And, truth be told, finding a job isn't really in the cards for him, or so we thought, as he has some major issues with both remaining focused as well as taking instruction and following rules.

A month or so ago, I mentioned this young man's predicament at our monthly Board of Directors meeting.  Of course everyone felt a great deal of sympathy for this man.  But, the discussion about him ended with no suggestions of what to do or offerings of help to find him somewhere to live or work.  I was quite disappointed, to be honest.  By that point I had exhausted all contacts I had and had come up with nothing.  But yesterday afternoon I got a call.  It was from our Board Chairman.  He is the head of the maintenance department at a local factory (who I probably should mention so that all of you would buy their products, and in some small way support this young man, but I won't so as to maintain complete confidentiality).  He called to let me know that he had spoken with the general manager of the factory and had created a job specifically for this young man.  How amazing is that?  This huge factory and company was willing to actually create a whole new position that fits what this young man is both capable of and willing/wanting to do. 

People are so good sometimes.  God is so good all the time.  What is so amazing about all of this is how God continues to not just watch over all of us, but even care for our smallest needs.  It has been a very tough week at work so far.  Compound that with the stress of trying to get ready for a 16 day trip overseas, and I am really really starting to wear down.  And, of course, just when I needed it most, God brightens my life.   I know that is a bit of a selfish way to look at it,  but you take the good stuff any way you can get it some times.