Why Handicaps? - PDF

CHAPTER 11 Why Handicaps? Handicaps are physical or mental disabilities that people are burdened with. These handicaps place the person ata...

CHAPTER 11 Why Handicaps? Handicaps are physical or mental disabilities that people are burdened with. These handicaps place the person ata great disadvantage. Some handicaps may be for a short term while others may last an entire lifetime. Ifwe look around, we can see these handicaps everywhere. The lame, the blind, the deaf and he mute are but a few instances. There are others who are affected by seriouS diseases. Those suffering form cancer, AIDS, leprosy, mental disturbances or developmental disorders are all handicapped in different ways. Some are born rich while others are born poor. Being born in certain countries, in certain communities and even to certain parents may be handicaps. Handicaps, no matter what they are, always place a person at a disadvantage. The person does not seem to have a fair chance ofsuccess or happiness. God is the creator of all human beings. He is our Father and amost loving father. He is the giver of talenis, qualities, abilities and virtues. Some may wonder why this most loving father appears to treat Hischildren in sUch a discriminatory manner. Does it not show that God is unfair and unjust? No doubt that God is fair and just. The disparity in creatures shows God's power. He has created each one differently. We are not machine-made and branded. Each one of us is unique., God had certainly given each one qualities and talents. God wants each one of Us to utilise and develop these talents. Handicaps do not mean that one is doomed tofailure. History is full of examples of such people doing beter than others. There is a law called the law of compensation. Certainly one who has certain handicaps will possess some other advantages - for example, a strong will, great determination or tremendous courage. 42 Besides, it is also felt that greater accountability is expected of a person with no handicaps. They have more responsibilities. It does not mean that the handicapped wish to be excused from everything. They have to fight their wayand ochieve success. They must notallow handicaps to stand in their way to progress. With cOUrage, determination and willpower they should overcome their handicaps and forge ahead. They con if they think they can They should prove that they can challenge and defeat their hondicaps Certain handicaps may be to remind them of their Creator and Father. When a person has evervthing, he or she tends to forget God, our Creator. Astory is told of a king who was strolling on the terrace of his ten-storeyed palace. He was watching the people below walking along the roads. Suddenly he realised that the building was on fire. The stairways were burning. The king had no way to rush down. He tried to call the attention of the people below. Due to the noise all around no one heard him. In his desperation to draw the attention of someone on the road he threw down his ring, studded with precious stones. One passerby saw it. He looked allaround. Realising that no one had seen him, he put the ring in The his pocket and walked away. The king then threw down a few gold coins he had with him. some thing happened again. Being desperate, the king looked around for something else. He saw abig stone. He picked it up and threwit down ata person walking below. It hittheman hard. He looked up to see who had thrown the stone at him. He realised that his king was standing on the terrace. Sometimes God does the same to us. He gives us plenty of blessings. We enjoy these to the maximum. While doing so, we never look up or think of God. When He throws down a stone, gives some pain or sufferingor some handicap, we immediately think of him. So some handicaps may have this purpose. In fact, too many enjoyments and too many pleasures make us forget God and his existence. It mayeven take usaway from God. The purpose of our life may be forgotten. That is the reason why there is a saying in the Bible that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye ofa needle than for arich man to enter heaven. Handicaps are not curses. They are signs of God's power and greatness. God's ways are different from ours. Let us learn to accept our litle handicaps as blessings and prove to the world that we toocan be sUCcesstul in our own way. We willcertainly receive double the blessings. 43