Tyler.

God seems to put a lot of "Special Ed" people in my life.

Those people who's words just get slurred together and are frustrated when you have to ask them to repeat what they say constantly. The first "Special Ed" kid, I remember, to be my friend was a guy named Tyler. I was, at the time, in fourth grade and was in the middle of 'I don't want to hurt his feelings and say no' and 'I actually enjoy hanging around him'. There were days to where I wanted to be around him and enjoyed the "special games" he would make up for us. However, there where also days where I wanted to say no, but didn't have the heart to.

I remember one day I wanted to play with the girls that were in my class so I hoped through lunch that Tyler wouldn't be there. I was disappointed to hear him call my name as I was headed to the monkey bars. Turning around with a smile plastered on my face I saw him running towards me beaming like everyday. Taking the piece of paper he was clutching and opening it up he showed me a paper covered with colourful lines and scribbles with pictures in the corners.

Holding it up he told me that he had created a treasure map that would lead to his "treasure". Following him all over the playground this way and that we were supposedly following the scribbles and lines. Peering at my other friends I had a secret envy for them that made me feel guilty. When we stopped he dropped to his knees and started digging. Getting down on my knees I waited. Out of the hole he brought out a small quartz. Handling it like it was the most precious thing in the world he showed me every side describing the rock.

He smiled widely and handed me the quartz and said to me in his slurred voice, "I want you to have it."

As a fourth grader I didn't see.

The first day I told him no a few weeks later his smile was gone and he went back inside and stayed there the rest of the day. I look back and feel sad and sometimes bad that I didn't see the ministry in Tyler. That I didn't see his love.

We don't see a lot when we envy or are blinded by endless wishing.

One of the girls....
                 Taylyr