Joni

I met Joni Eareckson-Tada in person yesterday. I was a young Christian when I first came across Joni's story through a book that a friend got for me in university. I never forgot her since. She pointed to the higher purpose and calling of God, beyond what people normally see, beyond the physical realm.

More than 20 years later, after God has dealt with me intimately through my walk with Him amidst my hearing disability, I had the privilege of meeting Joni in person and to hear her speak. She is now married to a wonderful God-fearing man by the name of Ken Tada (Ken, by the way, is Japanese). She was full of encouragement from God's Word amidst all the realities. She did not mask any of the difficulties that a disabled should come to expect. She did not hide behind a facade of someone who has made it despite being the leader and founder of Joni and Friends. She was transparent about her constant need of God, from some unexpected pain in the middle of the night, throughout her waking hours till the moment she sleeps. Shes leans on her God who's also my God, ALL the time.

One particular quote which I want to share with all of you is this. When asked how she would respond if someone offers to pray for her healing (from quadraplegia), Joni offered this answer:

"Physical healing is a good thing, but it is not the most important thing. If people want to pray for my healing, I ask if they will pray for God to get rid of the selfishness in my heart, my pride, and my sin instead. I will get a new body someday, but getting rid of my selfishness, pride and sin will have a direct bearing for eternity. I want to get crowns because they are increased capacities to worship, serve and enjoy Him in eternity."

I thank God for helping me put my own disability in a different light. I have to admit that I still pray for physical healing sometimes, especially when there's a healing crusade, or after some visiting pastors preached a sermon on healing. I do not detest my hearing disability, but neither did I embrace it as fully as Joni. Like Joni, my disability has drawn me closer to God than it would have for any other person without any form of disability. The fact that we live each day on his mercy is something we cannot deny, and thankfully so. However, I have not come to the point of saying my disability is my asset. I may have derived some strengths from that, but I have never proclaimed that as my asset. In fact, I sometimes wished that I could hear and sing the many beautiful songs that have been written about God, in an unadulterated and perfect manner. Now I know that can wait. When I get a new body, I will be able to join many others and the heavenly host, singing in adoration. But as for now, like Joni and the more than 650 million persons with disabilities in this world, we celebrate our disabilities in that they have pointed us to the cross of Calvary. They have pointed us to life with Christ. Apart from Christ, we are nothing, no matter how perfect our bodies are.

"My life is a cheque book"
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A brother in Christ, Brother Lu from Bintulu, Malaysia shared this with me this morning. Ever since he lost his daughter about 4 year ago, he has come to see his life as a cheque book, with one blank cheque for each new day he's given. His goal is to live each day fully, meaningfully, and in a cherished manner, as he will never know if there's going to be another cheque tomorrow.

How true that is, my brother. Thank you for sharing this with me in the most transparent manner, despite the fact that we just met this morning. We have 24 hours each day, freshly delivered to us from God each morning, even while we were still sleeping. How do we spend it? Are we going to just fill it up to pay some routine bills, or are we going to stretch it, make it go beyond auto-pilot, reach out, touch lives and make a lasting difference? Joni shared that she doesn't believe in waking up each day and going about our business on auto-pilot as if we don't need God. I think that's a good reminder for all of us. Have our lives gone on auto-pilot mode? Get real with God each day.

May God bless you.

Thomas

PS. I will be away in Hong Kong for a conference for the next 6 days. Do remember me in your prayers. I will resume writing when I am back. May God bless you.