“Joni, if you could go back, would you choose life in a wheelchair?”
Hi I'm Joni Eareckson Tada and, yes, it was a question once posed to me -- and in one sense, knowing the friend who asked it, I knew what he meant. After all, God has taught me so much through my wheelchair. God has used my quadriplegia to reach people -- especially disabled people -- all over the world with the Gospel of Christ. But if I had the power, would I want to go back and do it all over again-- that is, choose to be a quadriplegic all over again? Yikes, that's a tough question... and I'm too not sure I'd want to go through it one more time.
I mean, consider it, think about it: I can’t think of anybody who would desire to be paralyzed, can you? Who would be foolish enough to not want use his hands or legs? Who, in his right mind, would rather have paralyzed hands or legs that don't walk? For that matter, can you imagine someone desiring to be blind, wanting darkness over the brilliance of a clear blue sky? Who would want to deliberately shut his eyes against the sight of a glorious rainbow? And for that matter, who would love to be deaf? Is there anyone in the world who would prefer silence over the soothing voice of a loved one, or the chatter of birds, the babbling of a mountain stream? Can you imagine wanting to be deaf over listening to the sound of wind in the trees? I think you'd agree: not many people would deliberately choose a life with a serious disability...
Yet there are people who choose exactly that. If you were to challenge them, they wouldn’t have it any other way. They deliberately determine to be disabled. Theirs are very serious disabilities; not physical ones but spiritual disabilities. Jesus even talked about such people in Matthew 13. The Savior said to this group of people, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.”
Wow, it sure is foolish to think that someone would choose a physical handicap like that. I know I certainly wouldn’t. But may God forgive me when I foolishly close myself off from Him and His Word. So I welcome you today to join me in asking the Lord to open our eyes and unstop our ears. To look for the promptings of the Holy Spirit and listen to the voice of Jesus today. Join me in choosing not to be paralyzed by indifference, or blind to his ways, or deaf to his commands.
I think this is why I am so inspired by disabled people who are completely open to the Spirit of Christ and God's Word. They may be deaf, but they can certainly hear the voice of the Savior. They may be mentally handicapped, but they certainly do have the mind of Christ. They may lack 20/20 vision, but they can see the Light of the World. And, finally, they may be paralyzed, but their walk with the Lord is so inspiring.
And this is why I would love for you to meet my friend whose legs are paralyzed; her name is Holly. This young woman is so beautiful, inside and out. And sure, she may use crutches and occasionally a wheelchair, but Holly’s got this indomitable spirit, this love for Jesus, this passion to help others… honestly, you don’t even notice her spina bifida. You can meet Holly today by visiting me at joniandfriendsradio.org to see for yourself just how lovely this girl is inside and out…yes, her smile, but also her attitude. She is one terrific young lady who, I know, will inspire you greatly today. So come on over to my radio page at joniandfriendsradio.org and meet my friend, Holly. Again, that’s joniandfriendsradio.org.
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