Everyone has different gifts according to the grace given to you as it says in Romans. Whether you live with a disability or not, God has given you a special gift that you can use for his glory!
Visit the Radio Ministry online to find the photos Joni mentioned in today’s program.
SHAUNA: This is Shauna on Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope. We all know that Joni paints with her mouth, but we know someone who paints with his wheelchair too. Here, let Joni explain.
JONI: Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada and yes, because I am a quadriplegic I paint holding brushes between my teeth, but I have a friend who is also a quadriplegic, and he paints using the tires of his wheelchair. His name is Tommy Hollenstein, and he broke his neck years ago in a motorcycle accident – my friendship with Tommy goes back almost 40 years, and we have always been inspired by each other. I know I get inspired whenever I watch Tom do one of his amazing paintings, using his wheelchair. It is so cool to watch him!
This is what he does. He has a friend spread out a big canvas on a warehouse floor, and then he lines up all kinds of colorful cans of paint. As Tommy sits there in his wheelchair, he kind of eyes the various colors, the large canvas, you can just see him imagining a design; you know, his next steps. And after a while he’ll direct his assistant to pour a little paint here in this corner, and a little paint there, different color over there, and another one next to it, and so on. Then Tommy slowly powers his wheelchair onto the canvas, turning his wheels this way and that to – [you know, I don’t know] he kind of achieves a certain effect as he smears the paint and creates these wild and whimsical swatches of color. Sometimes he’ll even invite his service dog to come onto the canvas with him – and his dog’s paws pick up color and before you know it that big dog has lended little touches, little spots and splotches of green or pink here and there. Sweeping his wheelchair across the canvas, coming to a slide-stop on the wet paint, or turning and twisting his wheels creates this incredible array of beautifully blended colors, all to the delight of the viewer. I think his paintings are fabulous, and I’ve posted a couple of photos today on joniradio.org showing Tommy painting, as well as one of his finished and framed paintings that we have hung on a wall here at our International Disability Center. You’ve just got to see this guy at work!
Now, you’ve got to know that Tommy enjoys doing his art to the glory of God; he especially enjoys inspiring others to use their gifts. Just like 1 Peter 4 says, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” Now sure, Tommy’s gift of service to others is a little unusual, but he is unique. He illustrates the point behind Romans 12:4 where it says that “…each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.” It’s true. Whenever people look at Tommy and his unusual artwork, they are keenly reminded not to neglect their own gifts, however unique or unusual. For we all should use our gifts to serve others, just like Tommy does in his wheelchair as an inspiring example of perseverance, not only to me, his fellow artist, but to everyone who looks on.
SHAUNA: And speaking of art and painting, we want you to get in on the inspiration. So take a few minutes to stop by joniradio.org and see Tommy’s artwork for yourself. While you’re there, you’ll also see a photo of Tommy and his artistic service dog. And who knows, you may even be inspired to share your own gifts in some special way while you’re there. Remember, that’s joniradio.org! And if you need some extra encouragement, just to joniradio.org where you’ll find all kinds of resources and inspiration. Remember, that’s joniradio.org.
© Joni and Friends