I am mobility challenged. I can walk, but not far and not
well. A scooter (aka adult go-kart) is my main transport, and I have one in my
car tethered to a boom lift for when I go away from home. There are a few more
issues associated with my Multiple Sclerosis (M.S.) diagnosis, but I’m not thinking of those as I write this
blog entry.
Like many others, I believe, I don’t consider myself
disabled or handicapped. There are simply some things that I can’t do any more
like run a marathon (okay, I never really did that), cross-country ski, or
dance. I miss some of that mobility and
being able to do little tasks around the house, but I still function well,
especially cognitively. And, most importantly, I can accept my situation with humor. In fact, I've recently won awards for a humorous essay on the subject of living with my M.S.
Since I’m an optimist, I would rather concentrate on what I
can do rather than what I cannot. That’s really a secret to happiness for all
of us. And one of those things that almost all of us can do is to make things
better for those around us. As long as I can still do for others, I am
empowered and will never really consider myself disabled or handicapped.
Although my challenges may be obvious to others, and they sometimes
express surprise at what I can do, it’s no big deal to me. I accept help when
needed, or if it will make someone else happy to do something for me, but I
retain my independence. I truly thank God for that.
I know so many who struggle inwardly and no one knows of
their challenges, only because these are more difficult to discern than a leg
brace or use of mobility equipment. But also I think of those with some of the
same issues as mine, both current and noted in the Bible.
I remember the paralyzed man whose friends brought him to
meet Jesus and receive healing. How hard that must have been for the lame man to
be so dependent upon others (Matthew 9:2). No public transportation, no accessibility,
no physical or occupational therapy, and certainly not many others with whom he
might identify. Add to that, the Old Testament is full of stories ostracizing the
sick and disabled. It wasn’t a good time to be anything but perfectly healthy.
Again, I truly thank God for placing me in this world at the present time.
It seems there are a lot more of us with physical challenges
these days as evidenced by the prevalence of specially designated handicapped
parking. When these were first established, it was common to see almost all
were empty, but now it seems difficult to find one at times.
So what does all this mean, especially as the population
ages and people live longer, perhaps with bodies that are wearing out and not
made to last forever? I’m not sure, but I think God wants us to appreciate who
we are, what we have, what we’ve been given, and what we can do. That’s a tall
order, but that’s probably the biggest challenge any of us face. And one thing is for certain, He loves us no matter what.
