MADONNA LEARNING CENTER
The last time I cried throughout a public performance was in 1981 when, as a news reporter, I was assigned to cover commencement ceremonies at the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind. Watching those students achieve their diplomas under the most difficult circumstances, wow. I'll never forget it.
I flew into Memphis last evening to do a private farm consult today and this family has a child at the Madonna Learning Center in Germantown, Tennessee (a surburb of Memphis). They present an annual Christmas program at the Germantown Highland Capital Performance Hall.
The school was founded in 1969 by three Benedictine sisters from Indiana "who answered to a calling to create a school in Memphis that would embrace and educate children with special needs." All 106 students performed last night and I wept through the entire program. Partly to see what these children, most with Downs Syndrome, could do but also for the sheer heart and compassion of a staff so dedicated to the least advantaged in society.
The vision of the school is simple: "to help every child and adult with special needs thrive through leading a purposeful and satisfying quality of life." The center is completely private, receiving no government funds, no public funds, a truly "private, non-profit, faith-based school and training center for children and adults with developmental disabilities." They serve a diverse community: Down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injuries and rare genetic disorders.
Perhaps one of the reasons it affected me so much was because I'd spent much of the day on airplanes catching up on my reading. That included some in-depth magazine articles about Artificial Intelligence and the designs of the World Economic Forum in cahoots with the UN, as well as social findings regarding our Tik Tok culture. Social media creates comparison addiction and leaves underperformers depressed and often suicidal. If you're not as smart, pretty, or popular you have no place.
But here were severely disadvantaged young people being affirmed, loved on, encouraged and thrust into the spotlight. They couldn't sing well; they couldn't move fluidly in the choreography, but they had their night of affirmation by the entire community to be praised and applauded for what they COULD do. And it was more than anyone thought possible before enrolling in this incredibly special school. I can't even type this without tears hitting the keyboard.
The audience, which packed the 1,000-seat auditorium, was beyond appreciative, clapping and whistling at every routine. I've never seen that much excitement at a sports event. A community (the mayor was there) that turns out on a weeknight with that level of support is a place to live. The unabashed story of Jesus, Bethlehem, and salvation came through loud and clear but nobody complained. Here was a community drawing together around a GOOD thing. Not trying to see how culturally shocking they could be. Not trying to play the victim card. Just coming together to celebrate the traditional and meaningful facts of Christmas.
In a day when so much of life is either demeaning or disingenuous, this ministered to the heart and soul like nothing I've seen in a long, long time. You knew that these students, these teachers, and this community cared in a real, tangible way and were willing to put actions to their words. And they didn't wait for someone else to do it; they did it themselves. Well done, good and faithful servants. When people question my dream of less government, they often through up "what about this issue" in my face, as if the only way to deal with society's difficulties is with a government program. Last night showed the power of heart channeled to action.
What is a meaningful public presentation you've been to that touched your soul and therefore is indelibly etched in your memory?