Each Sunday, I take a step away from daily politics and focus on someone who has done extraordinary things or who we may need to know a little better. This week’s focus is on a man who has inspired me for years. This week’s light shines on Nicholas James Vujicic.
I am forever amazed by people who have overcome unfathomable hardships or challenges. I especially admire those who can set aside their situation and turn it into something that motivates others to strive beyond their self-inflicted boundaries. Jimmy Johnny Jones, who I wrote about a couple of weeks ago, is such a person who has incredible wit and wisdom derived from the loss of his legs thanks to an IED in Afghanistan.
Nicholas James Vujicic (/ˈvuːɪtʃɪtʃ/ VOO-itch-itch; born December 4, 1982) is an Australian American Christian evangelist and motivational speaker born with tetra-amelia syndrome, a rare disorder characterized by the absence of arms and legs. Born without limbs and rejected at birth by his parents, Nicholas has devoted his life to motivating others. Seeing him speak to a group while “walking” around a raised platform on the stubs leaving his body where his legs should be, is enough to believe that anything is possible. The words he then speaks are but reinforcement in case the visual evidence is not adequate.
Nicholas is still a young man but has a way of connecting with young people, and they buy into his message of spirituality, faith, and hope. It would have been easy for Nicholas to cash in his chips and abandon his fight, but that is not who he is. Maybe his parents turning their backs on him gave him his incredible strength. It doesn’t matter the source but that you have harnessed your strength and message to impart a bit of his power to others.
In 2008 in McKinney, Texas, near Dallas, he met Kanae Miyahara. They married on February 12, 201. The couple has two sons and two daughters and resides in Southern California. Without limbs, he can type 43 words per minute on a computer. God gave him this talent to pen eight books translated into 32 languages.
If you can’t get a miracle, become one – Nick Vujicic
Vujicic founded an organization, Attitude is Altitude, which focuses on Social and Emotional learning, positivity, and anti-bullying. The primary purpose of this foundation is to help and inspire the students for their careers. In 2009, he appeared in a short film, The Butterfly Circus, and played a small role as Will. Following his astonishing performance, he was awarded the Best Actor award at the 2010 Method Fest Independent Film Festival.
Nicholas has accomplished great things with no arms, legs, fingers, or thumbs. He has shown us that with what God has given us, there are no limits to our potential. He has shown us that when we need to feel sorry for ourselves for the challenges we face, we should think of him, standing before us with no limbs, and give ourselves a boot in the butt to get us to move on. It is with his mind and his tongue that he has shown us there is nothing we cannot accomplish if we put our minds to the task.
God Bless you, Nicholas James Vujicic, and give you the strength to carry on spreading your message for years to come. We who are touched by you are better people for the experience.
