Introduction (p.4-p.5)

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Mark’s story touches on subjects we can all relate to. It touches on the importance of family, friends, home, community, a sense of belonging and feeling safe. He draws our attention to basic human needs such as the need to express, be listened to, be taken seriously, feel loved and valued for whom we are. When such basic needs are not met, people often look ‘higher’ for protection and security and try to gain strength through spirituality means for their survival.

Images of angels and God help people visualise the existence of higher archetypal support. Mark’s life story is not unique in that sense, but what makes this story so special is that it is told and visualised from the rare perspective of a person with a developmental disability. In doing so Mark challenges the notion that people like him are different, and should be ‘sheltered’ from the full range of human experiences and thus treated differently on the basis of their perceived disability.
Mark has been through a lot in his life. Through enduring all these experiences he has gained an understanding, perspective and ultimately faith in his world, its people and beyond. His story gives us a unique glimpse of the belief system that he developed to cope in a society that created so many barriers for people like him. By using archetypal angels he has added a global quality to his work that makes it accessible to all. Now all we need to do is accept his invitation and step over our barriers.

When we are willing listen, take them seriously, value them for whom they are and allow them to freely express themselves, we can begin to truly understand people like Mark. Until that time, we can only pretend that we know how to care for them.