October 11 2017 – Click here to listen
I was catching up with a friend of mine yesterday and he related an inspiring event that recently occurred. He has accomplished so much in his life that this post cannot contain his resume, but some of the highlights are he was valedictorian at his alma mater Georgia Tech, an accomplished entrepreneur who founded companies in Russia, Silicon Valley, and elsewhere, and a marvelous athlete who had won several “Iron Man” competitions.
About ten years ago he was training for yet another “Iron Man” competition when his world dramatically changed. A freak accident occurred when a bee got under his helmet while he was cycling up a mountain and he ran off the road and smashed into a tree. He broke his neck and he suddenly became a quadriplegic. He has been in a wheelchair ever since.
One would think he would be bitter, but instead he turned to God and became a venture philanthropist, (someone who gives away and raises money to help others.) He loves the Lord and is not bitter at all about his accident. In fact, he alludes it to as being akin to a pearl. It begins as an irritant to the body of an oyster, but over time, the irritant will change. And the result is this irritant becomes the lovely and lustrous gem called a pearl.
I reminded my buddy of 1 Peter 1:7 that states that we suffer for a while and are tested to see if our faith is strong and pure. After remaining pure and maintaining our faith throughout our fiery trials, it brings honor and glory to our Lord who also suffered. God treasures our faith far more than pearls or anything known to man.
A friend of mine prophesied that God told my friend that he would rise from that wheelchair and walk again. Since I learned of this prophecy several years ago I have prayed for him nearly every day, as have many of his other friends. The results are astounding. He has made remarkable progress and can now move his arms and upper body from the waist down. His doctors are amazed and frankly dumbfounded.
Yesterday he told me that he is currently swimming two miles per day. His muscles that were atrophied after ten years of inactivity have begun to renew themselves and the weight he had accumulated from sitting in a wheelchair is being shed.
He was originally challenged to take up swimming by his rehab nurse and she has been in the pool with him daily for months assisting and encouraging him. He told me that he noted from the onset that she cautioned him against going in the deep end. He did as she asked, but recently has begun to venture further and further into it. He felt safe because he had become strong enough to stay afloat and they both always wear a flotation device, (like a ski belt.) Though not sure she should engage in this, the nurse reluctantly went along with him.
After his latest swim, she shyly told him that she had a confession to make. He smiled and asked her what it was.
She told him she couldn’t swim!
He was dumbfounded and then overcome with admiration for this young nurse and moved to tears. He told me that even though she was afraid and not equipped for this task, she made herself available. By making herself available, she had encouraged my friend to take this important step towards complete recovery, and because of her, he is well on his way to walking again.
Just imagine . . . One person made herself available, even though she didn’t feel she was equipped and because of her courage and beautiful heart to help someone, my friend is enjoying his life again. Praise God for her courage and her heart. Thank You Jesus!
How about you? Do you make yourself available even though you might not feel equipped or up to the task? If you obey the two most important commands, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'”, you will make yourself available when an opportunity arises . . .
Isaiah 6:8
And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”