The Journey 223: Transformed Living
Read: Acts 16: 16-34
All the athletes that came to Olympics came with a dream. Some came with the dream of winning a medal, some came with the feeling of being a participant in a world class stage with competitors from all over the world. Athletes like Bolt have created history by winning both the 100 and 200 meters sprint and thus his name will remain in the minds and hearts of people for a long time. But there was another athlete named Oscar Pistorius who also came to the Olympics, an athlete who had no legs, but a huge heart, and his goal in the Olympics was very simple just to compete. But yesterday after the end of the 4x400 meters relay though his team South Africa did not win a medal, He inspired, millions of people who was watching both the outcome of the race and of course Pistorius. He is known as the blade runner. The people in the stadium almost unanimously supported the South African who had lost the lower part of his legs at age 1, but through sheer tenacity and determination became a brilliant athlete. Here is an athlete who has no legs yet competes in the Olympics. Let us remember it is not a regional athletic meet but a Olympic event. Such is his passion and excellence to sprint even when his body is challenged. Pistorius, who was born without a fibula in either of his legs, became the first double amputee to compete in track and field in the Games, running in the 400 meters and in 4x400 relay. And thus like every other competitive runner at these Games, he wanted to run as fast as possible, be as great as possible. As his team prepared for the race they knew they will be outclassed. They stood no chance against the Bahamas and the United States, who won gold and silver, respectively. But his team and Pistorius ran, lost the race but not before winning the hearts of million of people and inspiring them which left Pistorius glowing about his Olympic Games. Now he's preparing to participate in the Paralympics Games, which begin on August 29. Here is an individual who is creating new paradigm in facing obstacles that maim a person for a life time. His approach to the whole issue is what is something striking about. I think this raise a question also in our life whether we as Christian think about the alternative ways and ways by which we are not cowed down by our disabilities on the contrary rise to overcome the disabilities that life sometimes gives us.
We are meditating on the theme “ Transformed Living” and the portion that we shall use for our meditation is from Acts 16: 16-34. Here is Paul and Silas languishing in prison for doing a righteous ministry. They had healed a girl who had a spirit of divination and thus some people manipulated the girl and used her for financial purposes. Paul healed the girl and the slave owners are angry that they will no longer able to manipulate her for their own selfish reason. They wreck vengeance by inciting the crowds saying that both Paul and Silas were disturbing the peace of the city and thus they both were manhandled, attacked, beaten and thrown into jail. Paul and Silas doing God’s ministry, doing righteous and acts of justice is now languishing in prison. Anyone who would have been in the place of Paul and Silas would have been dejected especially thinking of the fact that they were wrongly accused when they were doing God’s ministry. But not Paul and Silas. Observe how they face suffering of imprisonment. When they are in the jail what they do is praying and singing hymns to God. Singing when the going is tough and also painful, still praying when all hope is lost. Here is Paul and Silas teaching us what is important is not whether you have adversities in life or have been falsely accused, what is important how do you handle those adversities. Pistorius the runner handled the adversity looking at alternatives that will help him to overcome his disability, while Paul and Silas prayed and sang during pain. This is what we need to do today as we face adversities in life. Ready to sing n pain……….
Rev.Dr.Joe Joseph Kuruvilla
All the athletes that came to Olympics came with a dream. Some came with the dream of winning a medal, some came with the feeling of being a participant in a world class stage with competitors from all over the world. Athletes like Bolt have created history by winning both the 100 and 200 meters sprint and thus his name will remain in the minds and hearts of people for a long time. But there was another athlete named Oscar Pistorius who also came to the Olympics, an athlete who had no legs, but a huge heart, and his goal in the Olympics was very simple just to compete. But yesterday after the end of the 4x400 meters relay though his team South Africa did not win a medal, He inspired, millions of people who was watching both the outcome of the race and of course Pistorius. He is known as the blade runner. The people in the stadium almost unanimously supported the South African who had lost the lower part of his legs at age 1, but through sheer tenacity and determination became a brilliant athlete. Here is an athlete who has no legs yet competes in the Olympics. Let us remember it is not a regional athletic meet but a Olympic event. Such is his passion and excellence to sprint even when his body is challenged. Pistorius, who was born without a fibula in either of his legs, became the first double amputee to compete in track and field in the Games, running in the 400 meters and in 4x400 relay. And thus like every other competitive runner at these Games, he wanted to run as fast as possible, be as great as possible. As his team prepared for the race they knew they will be outclassed. They stood no chance against the Bahamas and the United States, who won gold and silver, respectively. But his team and Pistorius ran, lost the race but not before winning the hearts of million of people and inspiring them which left Pistorius glowing about his Olympic Games. Now he's preparing to participate in the Paralympics Games, which begin on August 29. Here is an individual who is creating new paradigm in facing obstacles that maim a person for a life time. His approach to the whole issue is what is something striking about. I think this raise a question also in our life whether we as Christian think about the alternative ways and ways by which we are not cowed down by our disabilities on the contrary rise to overcome the disabilities that life sometimes gives us.
We are meditating on the theme “ Transformed Living” and the portion that we shall use for our meditation is from Acts 16: 16-34. Here is Paul and Silas languishing in prison for doing a righteous ministry. They had healed a girl who had a spirit of divination and thus some people manipulated the girl and used her for financial purposes. Paul healed the girl and the slave owners are angry that they will no longer able to manipulate her for their own selfish reason. They wreck vengeance by inciting the crowds saying that both Paul and Silas were disturbing the peace of the city and thus they both were manhandled, attacked, beaten and thrown into jail. Paul and Silas doing God’s ministry, doing righteous and acts of justice is now languishing in prison. Anyone who would have been in the place of Paul and Silas would have been dejected especially thinking of the fact that they were wrongly accused when they were doing God’s ministry. But not Paul and Silas. Observe how they face suffering of imprisonment. When they are in the jail what they do is praying and singing hymns to God. Singing when the going is tough and also painful, still praying when all hope is lost. Here is Paul and Silas teaching us what is important is not whether you have adversities in life or have been falsely accused, what is important how do you handle those adversities. Pistorius the runner handled the adversity looking at alternatives that will help him to overcome his disability, while Paul and Silas prayed and sang during pain. This is what we need to do today as we face adversities in life. Ready to sing n pain……….
Rev.Dr.Joe Joseph Kuruvilla