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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Outstanding (04/21/11)
Measuring the Cracks


Chief among the tools we regularly pull from life’s tool kit is the yardstick of personal opinion. We use it to measure anything that crosses our path, from people to the latest headlines. Unfortunately, when placed beside God’s yardstick, it comes up short by more than a few inches.

I was never more aware of how short my yardstick was than after I watched snippets of a movie about the life of Nick Vujici, world renowned motivational speaker, author of No Arms, No Legs, No Worries, and founder of an organization called Attitude is Altitude.

Had Nick’s fate been left to some, including me, he might be languishing today in a physically handicapped facility, whiling away the day with trivial pursuits. In my court of personal opinion, the verdict might have been a lifetime sentence to monotonous mediocrity, at best. For a brief time, I forgot that The Potter never leaves a "marred" vessel to sit on the shelf, lovelorn and useless forever.

Nick’s life shone through the darkness of my obscure opinion, and helped me redefine, through the prism of God’s intentions, how I should measure the value of a person. How grateful I am that God uses a different measuring rod, and since His love is measureless, He’ll never destine anyone to a life of insignificance or nothingness.

Undoubtedly, few of us can lay claim to any asset that puts us a cut above anyone else. Yet, we all have a propensity to examine the exterior before evaluating the interior. Yes, we do judge a book by its cover, and we categorize people by their exceptional looks, clothes, or worldly possessions; and that’s a short list. How many times have I heard a TV commentator mention how difficult it is to run for the highest office in the land if the candidate lacks a certain look, or is a little light on charisma. His assessment underscores conventional thinking that to capture center stage, or merit attention, someone or something must possess external, stellar qualities.

Most of the time, our focus on the superficial determines how we view a person or situation. This should set off a danger signal. If we do not filter that mindset through the lens of God’s purpose, we miss His mark and fail to see what God wants to do with ordinary people. We must not hesitate to embrace the idea that no matter what it is, God will never give anyone anything that will cause them to be less than what He wants them to be.

In Nick’s case, He assigned him to live a life without arms or legs. He has a different assignment for us, and we should never feel diminished by it no matter how difficult the challenge before us. Nick proves that our limited resources will not determine our usefulness or our worth. It’s what God does with what we give back to Him that really matters. We learn from Nick, and others like him, that a hymn is no less a song because it has a different title. A car is no less a car because it’s either red or blue, or lacks a radio.

Someone once said, “God uses us, warts and all.” Even when our faults or differences stand out, God has a way of making them outstandingly useful. Nick puts it this way. “God does not seek our capabilities to serve Him, He seeks our availability.”

“Here I am, Lord,” is the only benchmark that leads to “the plans He has for us.”

From a life that went from contemplating suicide at eight years old to the fourth most sought after motivational speaker in the country, Nick’s life stands as a gentle rebuke to those whose yardsticks are too short.

I want to check my opinion of others by God’s yardstick. What about you? By His calculations, we’re all extraordinary, wonderfully made, and exceptionally outstanding. Psalms 139:14 confirms it.

The little crack in my window
Was all that I could see
Until it allowed an extra ray of sunshine
To create a rainbow for me


That little crack in my window
Can always be repaired
But I’m not sure I want to now
I prefer the rainbow instead

You may have cracks, some in, some out
Without a remedy
But He who sends the sunshine
Knows how to send light through the cracks
And make a rainbow for Thee




Additional information about Nick Vujici is available by doing a Google Search
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This article has been read 1832 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Sarah Heywood
04/28/11
What an excellent piece! This definitely is not "fluffy" writing - it makes the reader think. As a mother of a child with both mental and physical handicaps, I am so appreciative of the ministry of Mr. Vugicik - and grateful to you for writing about this outstanding young man.
Loren T. Lowery
04/29/11
Profound writing. The ultimate paradigm shift in viewing others as God sees us - and that our purpose is not be be perfect, but it is what God can do with what we give back to Him. Yes, profound. Love it!
Carol Penhorwood 
04/29/11
This speaks volumes...a reminder of God's love, grace, and wisdom in using what we think of as the "frailties" of our lives. Adding this to my list of favorites!
Michael Joshua
04/30/11
I read Nick Vujicic's book "Life Without Limits" early this year - he is definitely outstanding!

I really enjoyed this.
Tracy Nunes 
05/01/11
What we see as outstanding is not necessarily what God sees as even worth mentioning. Only He knows. Wonderful points. I was blessed to read it.
Sharlyn Guthrie
05/01/11
Well written commentary. I like your title and the way explain it, especially through the verse at the end.
Debra Hindman
05/02/11
Upon reading this, who wouldn't rush to read "No Arms, No Legs, No Worries!" Thank you!
Beth LaBuff 
05/04/11
What an uplifting message! I love your rainbow poem. It gives a whole new meaning to the cracks in our lives. Very good!
Edmond Ng
05/05/11
A tribute to Nick Vujicic whose testimony of a Life Without Limbs has brought much encouragement to many.

Whatever the measurement we use, we certainly fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Your heart and feelings are conveyed in the serious note and tone of your writing. Thanks for sharing this and God bless you.

Carol Penhorwood 
05/13/11
Came back to read again and it blessed me as much the second time as the first. Now if I can just remember that on "down" days!