In KB's Eyes



Typically, the church choir would file in from the entrance behind the pipe organ, along the side of the sanctuary.


But today, they were marching in two by two down the front aisle. Their voices were raised in bold song as they began the morning service with a joyous flair.

We all sat in our pews—listening, watching, and waiting for them to reach their seats in the choir loft.

I was probably ten, and listening to the music was the best part of church for me. I looked at those around me. Dad had let me sit next to him on the aisle, so I had a view of all the choir robes swishing past me.

Then I saw little KB. He was only three, but he’d never spoken a word. For a little boy, his silence was something we all noticed.

This was long before any extensive autism research, or much understanding of what KB’s mind was capable of. To me, he was just a quiet boy with thick eyeglasses. He stayed close to his parents.

But on this morning, he had somehow escaped his father’s pew and followed his mother, who was in one of the final choir pairs making their way up the aisle.

He seemed mesmerized by the music, tilting his head toward the choir. Then his gaze caught the light shining through the glorious stained glass behind the altar.

He walked straight toward the beauty in front.

I saw a few parishioners shaking their heads. Then I saw KB’s smile—for the first time.

His mother caught a glimpse of him following and quickly broke rank to come to her son.

She knelt down and tenderly took his hand. Instead of picking him up and removing him from church, she let him walk toward the place he wanted to see—the beautiful altar ahead.

He was as peaceful as I’d ever seen him. I’ll never forget his smile that morning.

As I think of this now, over a half-century later, maybe KB could see something our older eyes could no longer see—because we’d lost our childlike wonder.

I’ve learned that the best teachers for showing us how to find our childlike wonder are children.


But Jesus called for the children, saying, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to people who are like these children. Luke 18:16


 

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