Perfection & God

Most of the persons with disability feel that they are not "perfect" or are imperfect. My question to them is "Do you believe in God?". Because if you believe in GOD you cannot accept being not perfect. So it can mean you do not believe in GOD or believe in GOD and think that HE can create something which is less than perfect.

"Be ye perfect, even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect.." - Jesus said.

We have to understand that we are perfect as we are. Our body may be challenged but still we are perfect. Why am I saying that ? Because, I feel that GOD has given me a perfect body to live with muscular dystrophy. Since HIS purpose for me is known to him, HE has given me perfect tool - my body to accomplish the mission.

If we are focused on GOD's plan for us and are ready to receive HIS guidance, then we will try to be with his will. Like Vincent de Paul says "Perfection consists in one thing alone, which is doing the will of GOD.."

Pain and God

Most of us with disability are in pain. Pain can be physical, emotional or financial.

Why then do we have pain ? Like Craig Carter has said "Every pain in man is the result of some fear of lack, some belief of limitation. God can be the author only of good. Man suffers through his ignorance of his oneness with God."

I also feel, one is in pain because we feel we lack some thing or somehow are are limited. I have muscular dystrophy and am very much physically challenged. But am I in pain? No. Okay may be some pain sometimes.

Some times I am in physical pain but, I think what is GOD's plan for me with this pain. I am open to HIM using my body with dystrophy for a greater plan. I don't know the plan so I live with my pain and bless it. Bless the pain for it has a reason to help me which I am not aware of.

When we develop GOD-centered life even with pain, we will progress on our spiritual journey. After all the human experience is about growing, isn't it ?

Gratitude and God

I have dystrophy, so I am supposed to be bitter about life. But I am happy with my life the way it is at this moment. So how does one develop a happiness attitude ? Simple, just stay centered in GOD.

We must stay focused on GOD and HIS plan for us. Then even though we may not understand HIS plan, we can be sure that all that is necessary to fulfill that plan has been given. When we develop this attitude, we can be grateful that GOD has plans and provisions for us.

Dystrophy is just a side show for me in the greater glory of GOD's plan for me. I live with a sense of gratefulness with what I have got. A loving and caring close knit family, few but dependable friends who will do anything for my well-being. God through my father's legacy has provided for me and my mother - financially.

When we focus on what we have and feel grateful to GOD for all we have, we tend to stay happy. So live focusing on GOD and with gratitude for you have and pray for others.

Contentment and God

Many of us live a discontented life. We feel that if we had somethings more, or different or bigger then we would be content in life. Persons with disability may feel, that they would be content with life if they had a "normal" body.

The main reason we do not feel contentment in our lives is because we are looking outside for it. When we start thinking what is GOD's plan for us, the confusion in our attitude will slowly subside. When we start putting ourselves in the path of GOD's plan - we move towards contentment.

When we understand GOD's plan for us, we are grateful for this life. And this is enough to make more content in our lives. When we are acting on GOD's plan we will be content.

After my body became disabled because of dystrophy, I have offered myself completely to GOD for his purpose. The idea that I will be used by GOD, has made brought more contentment in my life.

I find that reading the BIBLE and particularly meditating on Psalm 23, is really helpful.

Choice and God

Many people feel that human beings are not free. That we do not have any choice. I say that is not true. We are free to choose. God has given us free choice.

However, this does not mean we are given freedom to do anything without consequences. Henry W. Beecher said "God asks no man whether he will accept life. That is not a choice. You must take it. The only choice is how."

I have dystrophy, which has made my body disabled. I did not ask for dystrophy. But since, in GOD's plan for me I have dystrophy - I will accept it with joy. I will make my life with dystrophy beautiful and purposeful.

I will work to use this opportunity and an stepping stone to greater spiritual riches. I will make the purpose of my life to use my dystrophy to bring glory to GOD.

With this choice of attitude towards disability and GOD, only positive outcome is possible.
Remember, it is our attitude that determines our choice. We can choose between good and bad, life and death.

Body, disability and God

I have muscular dystrophy. Thus my body is becoming disabled. But still I am not disabled. This is not a paradox. We have to understand, that we are not the body.

As long as we identify ourselves as a body, we will experience pain, sorrow and yes disability. We are souls having human experience. To quote Jean Mouroux "The body is made for the soul to express it.."

This does not mean you neglect the body. In fact we must take good care of it, for through this human body we can reach our final home. Consider that our body is the church, the altar is the heart. At the altar Jesus waits to take us home.

When our heart has Jesus, and our minds are focused on our heavenly father - GOD, we start living on a new plane. A plane where the body carries no significance and hence disability, no meaning.

When we understand ourselves are GOD's creation, then we can't be disabled. We are beautiful, divine and perfect. The body might be flawed, but the soul focused on GOD in due course becomes flawless.

Adversity and God

Most of the persons with disability feel that adversity in life is not good. True, life with disability is not a bed of flowers. But then there is another view to life , adversity offers us the chance to grow.

This growth is generally in the inner growth domain, i.e. spiritual growth. Certain religious minded people feel that people with disability suffer because of their sins. I beg to differ.

In fact, I feel blessed or the chosen one. Just like what Matthew Henry said "Extra ordinary afflictions are not always the punishment for extraordinary sins, but sometimes the trials of extra ordinary graces.."

This is true in my case. I feel the adversity - in my case dystrophy, has helped me grow more. I can say that I am more alive today than before becoming disabled.

"If an obstacle is put in our path, it is only to prevent us from going the wrong way, and to guide us into what is for us the only right path.." Henry T. Hamblin

Had I not become disabled, I would have probably still be with all my vices and not happy. I feel god has chosen my for a mission and that adversity is a part of that plan. Even, Jesus had to undergo various adversities.

So whats the big deal. I see adversity as God's confidence in me, that I shall transcend them.

Acceptance and God

James W. Riley said " When God sends rain.... rain is my choice...". This is what I call acceptance. When we accept that things happen according to God's plan, we align our goals with him.

There is no point in arguing about the rain. Make the most of what such a day offers. I have dystrophy and hence have been constrained physically. I have accepted this with open arms. God has a plan for me and that involves me being disabled.

Many people think it is a sign of weakness to accept things. But I feel, it is the sign of strength of faith and God. Acceptance has to be a conscious choice. "Acceptance is a letting-go process. You let go of you wishes and demands that life can be different" - to quote Gary Emery.

When we accept God's will for us, our life becomes purposeful, fulfilling and happier. And we must remember, Jesus Christ, is there to guide you on the way.
Just like abundance , you have to have acceptance of life as it is, in your life.

(refer post: http://disabilitywithchrist.blogspot.com/2008/01/abundance-and-god.html)

Abundance and God

I thought why not begin the first day of 2008, with thoughts about abundance.

Ernest Holmes once said "God wills us to have everything. As we express life, we fulfill God's law of abundance, but we do this only as we realize that there is good enough to go around - only we know that all God's gifts are given as freely and fully as the air and the sunshine..."

How true. We must live a life acknowledging the abundance in our life. Abundance is an mentality which comes from our being comfortable with ourselves. Stephen R. Covey has said abundance does not depend on external rankings, comparisons,opinions or possessions.

With my dystrophy, what do I have in abundance ? Let me see, a loving family, wonderful friends, time to support and comfort others. Also abundant opportunities to become Christ-like by living true to my faith.

I also feel, to experience true abundance we must give freely and unconditionally. Remember what Jesus Christ has said " To him that has, more shall be given; but from him that has not, the little that he has shall be taken away..."

Wishing a happy and purpose driven year to you.

Suffering, dystrophy and God

I have muscular dystrophy.I have said "have" dystrophy. most of us, say they are suffering from muscular dystrophy. What then, is suffering? I feel we suffer when we feel we do not deserve what our condition is. Simply put, it is about what we think or what others think about us.
And that is the cause of the suffering. I have my share of pains and problems associated with muscle degeneration. I also know that God is loving and so HE would not want me to suffer. God has given me, dystrophy, because HE has a plan for me.

I don't know what that plan is, but I am sure HE will give me the grace, strength and wisdom to carry it through.With God, there are no losers provided we act as per his wishes.

When I am working for God's plan and HIS glory, how can I be suffering? More my body weakens, I find that my spirit is focused on God. My faith is growing stronger. I await the day when, having completed my purpose in human life, I go to my real home.

Hardships are for human body,so that our spirits progress in their journey. Remembering that ""Remain true to the faith. We must go through many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God" - Acts 14:22

Divine strength

I have muscular dystrophy and as such my body is becoming weak. But, still I am in high spirits. How come I am able to do that? Let me share a secret with you.

I have a simple assumption for my life - God is always helping me. Remember what is said in the Bible "If God be for us, who can be against us" - Romans 8:31. This is my thinking. God is there for me and if HE is on my side there is nothing which can stand in my way.

But how do I get the strength to move ahead on my life's journey ? Simple. I use the power of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is not my power, but I use the power of Jesus, which gives me my spiritual strength.

It has been said in the holy book, just remember it "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." - Philippians 4:13. So my friends remember, we can achieve much more in life only if we use the divine strength which is always there for us to claim.

Fighting Spirit and God

People are amazed with the way I live with dystrophy. They say that I have a fighting spirit. But I beg to differ. The reason I am happy is because I know that I am not my body.

When one starts identifying with their body they feel miserable if they get disabled. I know that I am a soul having an experience of the human body this life time. I have been created by God in my mothers womb with a specific purpose in this life.

What is God's purpose for me ? I don't know. Only thing that I know is that HIS will, shall prevail. So, I try to understand my purpose in life and make it as close to God's purpose for me. I do not fight my disease - dystrophy. I have embraced it with open arms and a loving heart.

May be my purpose in life is to show others that we are more than our bodies. We have a divine mission and purpose. So let us do what God wants us to do - for HE knows what is best for us.

Instead for fighting our situations we should figure out how we can become Christ-like by our every day thoughts and actions and thus move on the spiritual journey to return to our heavenly Father.

Hopeless and Pray more

In 1990, I was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy. The day that I was told about it, my mind went into an overdrive. I was told that this disease had no cure and hence there was nothing the doctors could do. So I was thinking about the hopelessness of my situation and how to deal with it.

I could have gone into depression. But somehow, I started to think about what I could do. And a thought came to my mind, that when the situation is hopeless - then pray more. So I started, saying a silent prayer asking God to give me guidance about living life with dystrophy.

To my amazement, I received my guidance in form of a feeling that Jesus was looking at me and calling me to his way. I was always a believer but not a ritualistic person. So I decided that to live with dystrophy/ disability by adhering to the Christian values.

So I always tell people when it is hopeless - pray more for divine guidance.

God and my life story

I have muscular dystrophy. It is a degenerative disease with no cure. Still I am always positive and in cheerful spirits. So my friends wanted me to share my story with others to help them.

But I was reluctant. Finally, I accepted and started writing my story about two years ago. But some how I felt hollow and fake. I was writing about what I thought I did to live a wonderful life.

Somehow, it did not ring true to me. I frequently abandoned writing. I justified by saying who would be interested in my history?

In my heart I knew what I had to do but was avoiding it. Finally, I decided that I would write the experiences, based on my actions but include the god given guidance which actually has helped me.

So, this blog will not be secular, but will be based on my spiritual and religious experiences. It will also highlight the role God has played in my life and how Jesus has been the guiding principle to my happy purposeful life.