Australian Thoughts at the Weekend 13 and 14th September 2008

Australian Thoughts at the Weekend 13 and 14th September 2008

Think

Have you been watching the Paralympics? I have only caught a few seconds of it in the TV news and heard some results on radio. I have heard people complaining on radio that the Paralympics should get as much exposure on TV and radio as the Olympics. The point is made that the Paralympians train as hard as the Olympians and overcome their disability in amazing ways to achieve the high level of ability in their chosen sport.

Even in normal life, I have met people with disabilities who have amazed me by their enthusiasm for life and their sheer energy in pursuing their goals. I think of a delightful young volunteer worker who has limited sight and very limited use of one hand and leg. She has a bubbling personality and a friendly manner. I asked her simply “What keeps you busy?” She gave me a list of volunteer work for various organisations that would make most of us tired. As well as that she attends a special gymnasium for rehabilitation and muscle strengthening work.

Here was another example of those who appear to have less but have so much more in their giving. I am sure she is an encouragement to all she meets. I began to think about how our first assessment of people can be wrong and when we get to know them we find real value in them as people, and as friends.

I thought back to days when I used to visit a workshop for people with mental disabilities and learnt to interact with them and to value them as people. I learnt that often the “disability” tag was wrong. I prefer the old tag “handicapped”. A disability is something that one has for ever, or during the time of assessment. A handicap is something which can be overcome.

A horse may be lame. Now, if it is a race horse or a show horse that lameness is a disability. However, another horse may run in a handicap race. It may be handicapped by starting later than the rest of the horses, by having to run a greater distance to the finish line or by carrying extra weight. Its ability allows it to accept the challenge of the handicap and to come out a winner.

I have met many winners who have overcome their obvious handicaps. It’s great to know such people. It makes me stop and think how I can overcome the challenges life presents me.

Some years ago, I wrote of a visit to a place which was described as a workshop for training people with a disability. I repeat that Australian Thoughts for the Weekend here.

Some years ago in the course of my employment, I often visited a workshop where disabled people were trained to take their place in the workplace. I noticed that on one wall of the timber workshop someone had nailed up a large sheet of scrap plywood with the word “THINK” roughly painted in large red letters. To me it certainly was an attention getter.

I wondered about its affect on the workforce. My immediate thought was to the disabled trainees. Many trainees had disabilities which would cause the casual and maybe uninformed observer to conclude that this was their shortcoming. Here was a workshop with expensive materials being used to make various items. Without thinking, there was many ways in which this expensive timber could be ruined and even hours of work already done destroyed. Then, of course, there was the machinery and tools which unless one concentrated on their correct use could cause problems including injury to the user or others nearby.


When I thought about it further the word “THINK” could apply to the trainers. These trainers were skilled tradesmen who had the responsibility of guiding and directing the trainees in the task at hand. I began to think what a great responsibility these trainers had as they took another person along side them and taught them. They taught not only the skills of woodworking but also taught them the correct attitudes to the task and the workplace itself and everyone else in it. The trainers need to think of the task they had in hand. The task not only of shaping timber into useful items to meet the needs of waiting customers but of shaping lives with attitude and skills which would stand by them for a lifetime.

It was many years ago that I learnt St Paul’s word on thinking for Christians. Of course in those days, any memory verse came from the King James Version… “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things”(Philippians 4:8).

In more recent days I have enjoyed Eugene Peterson’s version from The Message “Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious--the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. (Philippians 4: 8. The Message).

The New Living Bible translation also is worth thinking about “And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honourable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise (Philippians 4: 8 The New Living Bible).
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When it comes to our faith, there is much that we ought to think about. Paul suggests that we think about the best. In our faith we must aim for the highest and that takes thought and effort.

[ Listen: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_1197.mp3 ]

Have you ever stopped to think how God loves you?
It sounds quite incredible, and yet it's true.
Nothing on this earth or in the heavens above
Is as sure and certain as God's love.

Chorus
O it's as high as the sky and it's as deep as the sea,
And it's as wide as the world, God's love for you and for me.
We can't escape his love, or take ourselves out of his care,
So where could we hide from his love?
His love is everywhere.

Everything is changing in the world today,
There's one thing reliable in every way,
Other things may alter but it's clear and plain
That the love of God is just the same.

Wider than the human mind can realize,
His love is unlimited and never dies;
Though we don't deserve it, every day it's new;
That's the love of God for me and you.
Author: John Gowans
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 49


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