As I have pursued the Whole Systems Design degree, I have found myself examining my sense of spirituality. Spirituality means different things to different people. I have found that efforts to relate myself and what I do in nature to be a spiritual activity. I will present that spirituality through a comparison between some Taoist thought and reflections on people with disabilities. Metaphors are one of the ways that I experience myself and my efforts with a sense of spirituality, and what follows is my use of metaphors to compare Taoist thought and persons with disabilities.

Persons with disabilities, and the things they do and can do for America, are like a spring of fresh water that flows unendingly. Our desire to see the day when we are equal in our society flows continually. Our energy and will move unendingly toward the goals of work and general accessibility, financial and social equality, and removal of the fear that medical care and housing will not continue. To reach these goals, we channel our energy toward them, leading ourselves to the realization of those goals. Along our way toward the goals we have, we avoid anything that might keep us from pursuing that path, or distract us from our sense of humanity. (Allan, 1997)

Persons with disabilities turn toward a humane way of pursuing the needs we have. It is as natural to us as a flood that doesn’t touch high ground, or a cold creek that provides water for thirst. We have lived with mistreatment, neglect and poverty, and do not find the mistreatment of others acceptable. Having been denied love, we practice it.

When we move toward our future, we are like a giant river that carries all of the damages done to us along the way. All of the abuse, hate, discrimination, denial and other forms of social flotsam and jetsam that have been placed on us is carried along with us and placed in the swamp of the past, a place where it can reside, and we may examine it, and learn. The past is not a place to live, only to learn from. We must work to deal with our problems. (Allan, 1997)

We are like a lake when a large boulder has been dropped into it. The initial sound and weight of the boulder hitting us is very disturbing. Yet the boulder sinks, and sitting surrounded by water it dissolves over time, to become sand on the bottom. When disability culture experiences a large problem, it yields, taking the blow and then works toward creative change, which erodes the problem. We may yield to the challenges that face us at first, but we always continue to work toward our goals.

Our ability to live in American society despite the negativity expressed towards us demonstrates the incredible amount of flexibility we have. We may not be able to see our future, or the path leading to it, but like a river over time, we will drop all of the negativity people throw on us, and our purpose and place will become clear. We hope that we do not stir up the bad of our past, bringing it once more upon us to resettle. Our hope is to disperse the foulness thrown at us, and find ourselves in a clear stream of existence; but this takes a great deal of energy. (Allan, 1997)

During those times ahead of us when we find ourselves dealing with a lack of energy to continue the path toward our goals, we have to be like a still pool in a cave, reflecting the image of who we are at the time. Through reflection of where we are, we can find new direction, or re-establish a direction we have lost. As we reflect on our actions, we need to be honest with ourselves and those around us, so that we can have more constructive dealings with each other, and those we are working with to create change. We must be patient with those who do not understand us.

Persons with disabilities are like any other persons when it comes to their spiritual beliefs; everyone has unique views. I have shared a small portion of my spiritual beliefs because I feel that it is important for everyone, disabled or nondisabled, to have some sense of a spiritual tie to life in order to be healthy, and people should not be afraid to express their sense of spirituality. Spirituality is as much a part of anyone’s health, in my understanding, as the health of their body and mind.

In order to be healthy, the physical existence, or body, of a person must be healthy. It doesn’t matter what particular form someone’s body might take; health requires that the body a person has to be as physically healthy as it can be. In my perception of the body, the brain is as important a part of the body as any other part, but does not include what I think of as mind. The intangible, thinking, perceiving part of a person is the mind. The part of a person that understands the world around him is his mind. For a person to be healthy, his mind must be healthy in that it thinks, perceives and understands the world to the greatest degree it can.

A person’s spiritual makeup is as important to the well-being of a person as his physical wellness, or the wellness of his mind. Spiritual makeup works to help a person create connections to the world, and the events that happen in life help a person to maintain a sense of place, a sense of belonging in life. Without a sense of place and belonging in life, health of the body and mind can be elusive.

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