Observations

by: Donald S. Conkey

 

Date:  18 October 2007  - # 942 – Blessings for the Physically Restricted (805)

 

How do the physical impaired and restricted in their movements learn to live with their physical impairments? Slowly, and often painfully! But it can be done and thousands learn to live with new restrictions every day. They, like me, may not like it but they can and do adjust to their new situations, and in most cases, again like me, they find personal blessings they never dreamed would be available to them prior to their life changing accidents or illnesses.

      My physical impairments have blessed me by opening up a whole new world to explore. I now search for wisdom and knowledge out of the world’s great books, included the greatest book of all – the Bible. Seldom, usually not until one is forced into such circumstances, will one take the time to seek out those great books the wisdom and knowledge contained within their covers, or to ponder that wisdom and knowledge for their own personal benefit. The unimpaired often let the world keep them from learning the required lessons of life – vital lessons for those whose goals are the Kingdom of God located in, as Paul declared, the third heaven. What a shame.

      Another blessing available to the physically impaired, often not considered a blessing, is time – the time to think and to reflect. For me unscheduled time became a great blessing. Everyone’s head is full of memories, both of the good and of the bad. I remember my childhood, my days on the farm: my first calf, my days preparing to show it at the county fair, the blue ribbons, sleeping under the stars at the fair, and the day I sold that calf and how hard I cried; I remember my friends, now mostly gone onto their individual rewards in the world to come; and I remember my parents and how they were there for me growing up: their good lives, and the day their spirits separated from their bodies leaving their children to carry on. The good memories!

      With physical restrictions come greater opportunities to review family albums and reminisce your military service, the day you married your eternal companion, the birth of your children, their first day in school, their graduations and weddings, your first job, and the people you worked with over the years. And there are the memories of all the health issues that caused your medical retirement – the bad memories are ever present.

      My most cherished memory is of that night I learned for myself that God lives, that He is the great Creator of the universe, and that life has a great and marvelous purpose. A memory not to be forgotten!

      Following my first open heart surgery in 1983 Joan, my wife, introduced me to the world of Will and Ariel Durant, and to their 18 volumes of world history and philosophy, including their master work,  “The Story of Civilization.” This gift stirred a hunger in me to learn from the great books, and Durant’s books are among the great books available to mankind. Durant’s books led to a study of world governments which led to a study of America’s unique history and of its three Foundational Documents. It has been a fascinating thirty-year voyage, a journey that has taken me back to the source of all law and liberty – God’s perfect laws of liberty referred to by James twice, and the laws used by the Founding Fathers as their pattern for America’s unique laws of liberty.

        The unscheduled time that followed forced retirement provided opportunities to become involved in politics, including leading a state-wide issue that allowed me to fully utilize my personal skills learned over a long professional career.  Then more unscheduled time allowed me to complete a class on how to write and produce television programs. This class proved useful during our year plus church service mission in Toronto where our assignment was to build bridges of understanding with 47 faith groups. One of the tools we used to bridge those bridges was to teach the faith groups how to write and produce their own religious messages and get them broadcast on Canada’s public television network. This venture indeed blessed our lives.  

      And other blessings come to the physically impaired from service provided by family, church family, friends, and the medical community, that community trained to find and administer new medicines and technology to bring greater healing, relief and comfort to their patients.

      And today a lap-top and the web add blessings to the physically restricted – they are no longer isolated to their wheel-chair or home. The world literally sits on their lap and they can reach out and explore any number of subjects. For me my family history has been a mind-saver, a powerful remedy for unwanted depression. And blessings will continue to bless the physically impaired as long as they serve others and forget themselves.