Abstract
In this engaging and informative book, readers are invited to explore what it means to walk alongside people touched by disability, and in so doing, learn what it means for the church to live out its mission.
Same Lake, Different Boat was first published in 2006. Since that time, it has been widely read by church members, pastors, ministry leaders, people with disabilities and their families, and professors and students of Christian ministry. It has been required reading for courses at a number of Christian colleges and seminaries and has been translated into several languages. This revised and updated edition has minor revisions to the original thirteen chapters. Two new chapters were added, which explore the original concepts of the book more deeply and speak to some of the current social issues that arise in disability ministry contexts. The author is a research fellow in disability ministries and a visiting instructor in educational ministries at Covenant Theological Seminary.
While books on disability are often experiential, motivational, or programmatic in nature, this book seeks to share what the author has found to be true about disability and the church as a result of “actively engaging in the struggle” and “wrestling with God and his Word” (p. 18). The author’s goal is to share a vision for a better way to understand disability biblically, understand the challenges that face individuals and families touched by disability, and understand the role of the church in the lives of people with differing abilities (p. 18).
The book is arranged in four sections. Part 1: Foundations lays the groundwork for understanding disability, exploring it from a biblical perspective. Chapter 1 contrasts three views of the nature of disability. In the modernist view, people with disabilities are an abnormal part of a normal world. This view has been used as the basis for abuse against people with disabilities. In the postmodern view, disability is a normal part of life in a normal world. This ignores or even celebrates disability. The biblical view sees disability as a normal (expected) part of life in an abnormal world. The biblical view describes the world truthfully—a formerly perfect world broken by sin in which disability is “a more noticeable form of the brokenness that is common to the human experience” (p. 31). Chapter 2 explores the common story that humans share. “We are essentially the same but experientially different.” Same lake, different boat (p. 38). Our identity is found in who God made us to be—people created in his image. God’s grace given to every person is the basis for true identification with one another. Chapter 3 presents the “two pillars of respect” that support our relationships and make our lives richer: the image of God and grace (p. 46). Chapter 4 relays that the relentlessness of disability is one of its most challenging aspects. You can’t beat it and you can’t escape it. Some respond to this relentlessness by assuming a victim mentality. Others take on an “I’ll beat this” mentality. God shows a better way: to “engage reality with a perspective that is honest and God-reliant” (p. 59), fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. Chapter 5 contrasts compensation with restoration and points to the already-not-yet kingdom of God which promotes the restoration of all things. We are encouraged to “be an instrument of the kingdom of God, bringing healing, help, and hope” to those around us who are experiencing brokenness in their lives (p. 79).
Part 2: Families gives readers glimpses into the journey and the experiences of families impacted by disability. This section opens our eyes to the challenges and realities families touched by disability face and offers practical, godly ways the body of Christ can walk alongside them. The four chapters in this section discuss coming to terms with a new reality, negotiating a path forward, living a new normal life, and grappling with the great opportunity. Chapter 6 describes how people and families are forever changed by disabilities. A myriad of issues, including financial, medical, legal, and more, cause grief and stress and can test faith. Individuals and families need the church to be there for them and respond to their needs as the hands and feet of Jesus. In Chapter 7 we learn that as the person and family works toward acceptance, they find that true peace only comes through the hard work of struggle. The body of Christ is called to “walk alongside them in grace and truth as they negotiate a pathway to acceptance” (p. 113), recognizing that we all share in the common experience of brokenness. Chapter 8 shows that families touched by disability face the same types of struggles as every family, but to a greater degree. The church can show Christ’s love by providing assistance, encouragement, and perspective. Chapter 9 illustrates how “God often uses disability as a great opportunity to turn our faces gently away from our self-centered agendas and toward him” (p. 141).
In Part 3: Facilitation in the Church, the author uses biblical themes and concepts to demonstrate how the church can minister with and to families with disabilities. Chapter 10 describes how the church is called to offer hospitality while engaging in justice, mercy, and faithfulness for all people, but especially the downtrodden and oppressed. Chapter 11 demonstrates the biblical concept of belonging, where there is unity in diversity and equal concern is expressed for all unique members of the body. Chapter 12 addresses questions that every church needs to answer about engaging families impacted by disability and proposes that a relationship-based ministry will help the church meet a wide variety of individual and family needs. Chapter 13 contrasts revolution with reformation and encourages churches to adopt a reformation perspective that is “energized by God’s mercy, promotes Spirit-led change from within the human heart, retains a sense of personal perspective while simultaneously valuing all people, and focuses on the expression of love toward others” (p. 213).
The two final chapters are new additions to the book and comprise Part 4: Further Thoughts. Chapter 14 offers readers the opportunity to examine the functional and social aspects of diversity and consider how only the biblical perspective embraces both realities. A close study of Jesus’ encounter with a man born blind in John 9 provides insight and clarity on how Jesus recognizes and addresses both the functional and social aspects. This chapter also defines and discusses biblical belonging that is centered in the gospel leads to flourishing for all of God’s people. Chapter 15 engages readers in a discussion on neurodiversity and the neurodiversity paradigm and leads the reader to consider idols that may be “blocking the entrance to the kingdom for people with disabilities” (p. 252).
Same Lake, Different Boat is an important and insightful read for all those who wish to know how the church can walk alongside individuals and families that have been impacted by disability. Hubach has experienced firsthand the challenges of a family living with disability. Her book shares numerous stories that illustrate both the joys and the struggles of raising a son with Down syndrome. While Hubach doesn’t downplay the challenges, she relates the stories with a sense of humor and uses them to help the reader gain understanding.
Hubach wrote this book to share what she had learned through years of wrestling with the realities of family life, God’s word, and the way the church responded, sometimes inadequately, to families experiencing disability. Her stated goal is to help people gain a better way to understand disability biblically, to understand the challenges that individuals and families of disability face, and to understand the role that the church should take as they engage with people with differing abilities.
The sections and chapters of the book are well-organized and build on one another. Hubach begins each chapter with a story that serves to illustrate her point as well as provide a better understanding of those living with disability. Hubach knows both the culture and the Bible well. Each chapter shares challenges that those living with disability face and describes how the world and our human nature often respond to those challenges. She then leads the reader into the Scriptures to see how God addresses those same challenges. What we find is that when God speaks to the issues faced by families with disability, his truth speaks to all people. We are all living in a broken world, “essentially the same but experientially different” (p. 38)—same lake, different boat.
Hubach’s section on Families achieves its goal of helping readers gain a better understanding of the challenges that individuals and families of disability face. Hubach openly describes the many stressors and difficulties her family has faced. She also points out the sometimes-inadequate response of the church to reach out to and assist those in need of help. But instead of hurling accusations, she once again gently points the reader back to Scripture to learn from Christ and his example of love for all people. In the third section, Hubach describes how the church can minister to and with families with disabilities. She accomplishes her goal in this area also, by providing specific suggestions for addressing the needs of families with disability, grounding her ideas in commands and promises of Scripture.
I especially appreciated Hubach’s deep dive into John 9, the story of Jesus’ encounter with the man born blind. In this examination of the words and actions of Jesus, the man born blind, his parents, the disciples, and the Pharisees, we come to understand how easily and how often our view of others, especially the disabled, can be wrong and distorted. We see how our actions can harmfully magnify the social aspect of disability. And we learn a better way—the way of valuing and belonging and unconditional love—the way of Jesus.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book for those who desire to come alongside people touched by disability, and for all people who wish to explore how the church can learn to make the gospel accessible to all.