Agony or Celebration - The Blade Runner

It’s been an exciting week with the Olympics in full form.  Stephi and I have been counting down the days for the last three months leading up to the Opening Ceremony so we can see the glam of the performances, the culturally influenced uniforms and the incredible athletes.

Every night we zoom through dinner so we can plop down and watch the evening coverage of the day’s games.  We don’t even get our shorts all twisted up if the news has blabbed the outcome, since it’s the competition we want to see… and the stories of inspiration.

These stories of inspiration seem almost bigger than the actual games.  They are not the mammoth stories of frustration with practice schedules clashing with our lives, or the hardship of travelling 3-5 miles a couple times a week to well cared for facilities, but rather it’s those simple problems such as overcoming grave illnesses, war, and unspeakable tragedies where the response of laying in fetal position holding one’s knees would be understandable.  Yet the only knee hugging I've seen from these "poor baby" athletes is during their warmups….I am already outclassed with their warm ups knowing if I hugged my knees that high, things would break.

It’s pretty remarkable that these 2012 Olympics will host the first double amputee in track.  This Olympian, 25 year old Oscar Pistorius of South Africa, is an incredible example of positive strength even in OVERWHELMING  adversity.  Oscar was born with the congenital absence of the fibula in both legs (no bones in his lower legs) which led to his parents’ agonizing decision to amputate his legs halfway between his knees and ankles when he was a baby. 

OK, just hand me the tissues now.....my heart is twisting in response. 

Oscar could have sat in a wheel chair and led a very simple quiet life, but with his mother refusing to treat him any differently than a child with full legs, as well as Oscar’s huge spirit, this child got some legs and worked to become the athlete he knew he wanted to be.

Of course, I have oversimplified it way down.  There were uncountable challenges, any one of them which could have brought a lesser heart down, but not Oscar.  He’s just a guy who straps on his legs before he steps out of bed and seizes the day. 

He has championed the Olympics even before he races one second of any race!!

As though this story in itself wasn’t enough to bring a warm fuzzy feeling to my heart, there’s a clincher.  Oscar’s lovely mother died when Oscar was 15 years old.  Oh My Heavenly Father, What?  Why?  I am all over this one with God.  I know what it’s like to lose someone you are so close to….I know what to do, I’ve read all the books and I know all the grief steps by heart..which one do I feel first in response?  Anger.  How could this child/young man be handed such a heavy load? 

…but then Oscar teaches me a lesson.

Here’s what Oscar said with a genuinely warm smile when asked what it was like to experience loss (the death of his mom at such a young age) “In my family we don’t recognize the years we won’t have with mom, but rather we celebrate the years we HAD with her.”

Oh crap….I know I suddenly have that look like the kids get when they have done something shameful and know it. 

Here is a soul who is nearly half my age (yes it hurts to admit that) and he puts my self pity to shame and I know he’s right! He is smiling, at peace, and taking the life that God has given him with purpose, drive and humility!   

Oh no, 1-2-4 tissues aren’t gonna do it for me, I need half the box for this one.  Heck with the fact that my office mates can hear me.

I love this picture of the Newmanettes hanging out together.

It stayed with me all day.  It is something that I have actually pondered for a while now since losing Josh.  Celebrating versus Agonizing.

To make sure I truly got the point, I came home from work to this message from God awaiting me in Facebook.

On this Day God wants you to know that today is a big day for you Yes, today. Keep your eyes open for a message. It might come in a shape of a bird flying overhead, or a graffiti on a wall, or a phrase said by a passerby, or... Whatever shape it has, this message has been trying to reach you for years, and today is finally the day. Keep your senses open.

All I can say is “Thank you Lord!”

Hugs,

Sherri

 “You’re not disabled by the disabilities you have, you are able by the abilities you have.”  -Oscar Pistorius