(slide show link below)

I’m not exactly sure where to start. Just thinking about Nick and his effect on an entire group of people leaves me speechless. And inspired. And just amazed that a man can overcome such a physical challenge and live life with such joy. Not just living. Living. With. Joy! It really makes you see life in a different way.

This past week, I was invited by Marilyn and Larry Guidi to attend an event with speeker, Nick Vujicic. I had heard about this man before and I was both excited and apprehensive to attend. His story caused a mix of emotions in me. I really felt his circumstances were tragic. I thought it would make me cry and feel depressed. It had the complete opposite effect on me.

Nick has no arms and no legs. No arms. No legs. I can barely wrap my brain around that. A man, who loves his life and he is essentially a torso and a head. Think about the magnitude of that for a second. No arms. No legs. Happy to be alive. It almost doesn’t make sense.

Nick talks about his life and his hopelessness when he was a young boy. His fear of life and how he would function as he grew older. Who would take care of him if his parents were gone. How could he ever make friends, have a life that was productive. Would he ever matter? He worried to the point that he thought it would be best to cease to exist. At a very young age, he wanted to commit suicide. Tragic. So, so sad. The thing that stopped him was thinking about the pain his death would cause to his parents. Wow. Even though his life at that time was one challenge after another, he was able to put someone else’s feelings above his own. Now that I have met him, that doesn’t surprise me.

Nick made a miraculous change. Seriously a true miracle. He went from despair, suicidal, and miserable to a joyous happy soul. From dark thoughts of “Will I ever matter? Why was I even born? My life is a waste.”… to “If I can help one person see their value, my life is a success.” Change like that is so hard to make. Add to it having no arms and no legs and it seems impossible. But one thing changed Nick’s mind and heart. Faith. I’m not exactly sure of the details of his experience. Was it a lightening bolt striking him? A series of events that made him rethink his situation? Or just being so far down, that the only thing to do was pray? And since giving up not an option, he chose God.

I was nervous about the God thing too, when I signed up to go to this event. I believe in God. I pray. I grew up going to church. I believe in miracles. I just don’t really talk about that kind of stuff. And I really don’t like preachy, beat you over the head with religion stuff either. So when I heard that Nick’s faith was an important part of his talk, I was worried.

The way he touched the people in that room was truly amazing. He didn’t preach. He didn’t make you feel sorry for him. His honesty and his true joy transformed that room. It was…amazing. (How many times did I write that here? No other word seems to fit!) I am so grateful I took my camera!

I really enjoyed putting together this slide show. I know every time I watch it, it will give me inspiration. It will make me look at things differently. I hope you enjoy it. Don’t forget to adjust the volume on your computer.

If you ever have the chance to see Nick speek, run, don’t walk. He will change your life. He has a great website too.

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