Will disability exist in heaven? Part 1: Why ask the question?

I bet your knee jerk reaction is no. But it's a little more complex than that. That's why this post will be split over three days:

1. Why ask the question? (Today's post)
2. What do we know about heaven? (Tomorrow's post)
3. Will disability exist in heaven? (Friday's post)

Consider these comments I've found on blogs around the web. First one from a Canadian named Dave who, according to his bio, has worked in the field of disability for 30 years, became disabled himself a few years ago, and uses a wheelchair when out and about around Toronto:

Yes, of course, I've wished to be different than I am. I've wished to be without disability, without any difference at all. I've wished away my birth into the life of diversity that I've lived almost since my first cry. And those wishes are meaningless. I would never have wished away my 'sissy ways' if I hadn't been subject to brutality. I would never have wished away my 'attractions' if I hadn't been in fear for my life and livelihood. I would never have wished away my disability if I hadn't been constantly subject to pitying stares and withering glances. It takes time, you see, to understand that I was wishing away the wrong thing. I should have been wishing away bigotry and hatred and self righteousness. I should have been wishing away conversations like this one - that tell me that pride in myself is a foolish idea. I should have been wishing away a lifetime of discrimination. I wished away, not who I was, but how others reacted to who I was. I wished away, not selfhood, but the actions of hoodlums. I wished away pain inflected, not identity experienced.

Meanwhile, I had a conversation with Rick Smith (aka Noah's Dad) and a couple other commenters about Down syndrome and heaven. I asked if he thought Noah would have Down syndrome in heaven, and a couple of noteworthy responses were:

• From Valerie: 
  I know you aren’t asking me – but I sure hope my daughter has Downs in heaven – it’s who she is. And I can’t believe that God made some huge mistake when he made her. I think Downs is this world’s problem, not God’s.
• From Melissa: 
  I like this question….and I get asked this sometimes about my son. My feeling about him is that he is so amazing….he is so tender, so funny, so full of joy and love…and not to overlook he is also very smart (very!). My secret hope is that we all have Down syndrome when we get to Heaven. I agree with the other commenter on this question….I don’t believe God made a mistake with my son or that he would be better if he didn’t have Down syndrome. He is the happiest and sweetest person I have ever met.
• From Rick: 
  We have to remember that Down syndrome isn’t like the flu, or a cold, or something. Down syndrome isn’t something Noahs “has” in that regard. We have to remember in the Bible there is a difference between “curing” and “healing.” They are different words, and have different meanings Biblically I’m not to sure Down syndrome is something that needs to be “cured.” However you, and I, and my son (with Down syndrome) and everyone on this planet needs healing…and will be healed in Heaven. If Noah looses his leg in a tragic water ballon accident, I’ll pray for his leg to be cured…and I’m sure it will be healed to perfection in Heaven. However, Down syndrome is all together different then any of that stuff. It’s his entire genetic code. You take that away, you take him away..he’d be a different person. We have to remember that when we say someone is “different’ or “special” or “disabled” we are comparing them to us. Using ourself as the measuring rod of what is considered “normal” or “typical.” The Bible does not say how many chromosomes make a person “normal” or “typical.” (and to be honest I’m not sure it really is that concerned with it. What’s The Bible is concerned with is not how many chromosomes a person has, but who made the person….which of course is God. And so while it’s interesting to think about these sorts of things….I like to spend more time helping people see that all humans are made in the image of God, and just because of that fact alone are valuable, important, and worthy of all of our love, and respect.

Temple Grandin has often remarked that she wouldn't want to be cured of autism because it would completely change who she is. Most Christians I've communicated with in the Deaf community - note the capital D because that's important here, although I don't have time to explain why - think that they will be Deaf in heaven as well.

Conversely, in the final chapter of Why, O God?, Joni Eareckson Tada writes that she will gladly send her wheelchair straight to hell after she meets Jesus face to face in heaven. Many other bloggers with disabilities or with children with disabilities look forward to heaven as a place in which the disabilities affecting their families will be no more. And Jen from Living Life With a Side of Autism wrote here that she would definitely give her daughter a pill to cure autism if there was one, sharing this:

Sometimes, I can see the person Katie could be, sans Autism. There are times when she has these clear moments...out of the fog...where I can see what life would be like for her without this monkey on her back. Autism to me is a parasite. This is something I have addressed before. I don't look at it as a life enhancer in any way, shape, or form. Not for Katie, at least.

Now, in light of all that, reconsider the question posed in the title of this post. Is it as easy to answer now?

Come back tomorrow for my response to the question in part two! 
And if you haven't done so already, go comment on my post about Different Dream Parenting so that you can have a chance to win your own copy. Just go here for that chance!