Most of us have heard of Christopher Reeves, perhaps best known for
his role as Superman. In 1995 he had a terrible horseback riding accident that left him
paralyzed from the neck down. Christopher Reeves, now a movie director, wrote his
autobiography "Still Me," in 1998. He presses on to live life to
the fullest and overcomes nearly insurmountable tasks with his "abilities"
every day of his life.
Another famous person who is paralyzed from the neck down is
Joni Eareckson Tada. She suffered nearly complete paralysis in a diving
accident. This famous artist and author celebrated twenty years of ministry to
the disabled this November, 1999.
These are famous people who've overcome all odds and are
leading productive lives.
For some this would have been the end of life. It WAS the end
of their life, as they knew it before they became paralyzed. One doesn't have to look
very far, though, to see that their "spirit," who they are inside." is NOT
paralyzed. They are the same people, on the inside in spite of the paralysis.
However, they are still leading their lives in the fullest way possible. They look
beyond their grief and reach out to the world around them, impacting millions of disabled
people.
Many quadriplegics are not famous like Christopher Reeves and
Joni Tada. Some are like Linda. She was left paralyzed from the neck down in her early
twenties from a car accident. That was over twenty five years ago. Linda is extraordinary,
touching lives in parts of her surrounding city. Many times I see Linda buzzing down the
street in her motorized wheel chair, determined to live life to the fullest. She
spends time cheering people up, and reading to children in the hospital. She
told someone in her loving way, "My goal in life is to make at least one person
a day smile." Now I would say that is an admirable and selfless goal.
What are you dealing with today? Maybe you are not paralyzed,
but you have cancer, diabetes, fibromyalgia, or some other chronic disease. It could be
possible that some of you may be dealing with horrible emotional scars, the loss of a
loved one, or some other tragedy of life. How do you handle it? Are you like
Christopher Reeves, Joni Tada, or Linda? Do you reach out to others in spite of your
disability and grief?
I am not saying that all these people have not had days when
they do not want to go on. It would be absurd to pretend that they do not struggle with
their disabilities on a daily basis. Here's what I'm trying to say: Why not decide to
focus on your abilities and not concentrate on your disabilities? Reach outside of
yourself. You might be surprised at the joy you find.
Phillppians 4:13 "I can do all thing through Christ who
strengthens me."
