Find Your Greatness: In He Who Enables You

He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God, and they will live securely for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. 

Micah 5:4

 

And speaking of greatness, the story of the South African runner, Oscar Pistorius, takes the honorary gold. Friends and competitors have nicknamed him Blade Runner, and Fastest Man on No Legs.

Oscar was born with a congenital absence of fibula, both legs. At the age of eleven months his legs were amputated below the knee. That did not stop him. As a kid, he competed in rugby, water polo, tennis, wrestling and in high school began to run. For years he set records and won golds in the paralympics.

Not content, in 2008 he applied for the able-bodied Olympics but was ruled ineligible. For some reason the board felt he had an unfair advantage. Give me a break! Fortunately the Court of Arbitration for Sport overruled, acknowledging several disadvantages including the starting blocks and the curves to the track. All he had to do was qualify, and that he did for 2012.      

I watched as Oscar came in second in his first heat, and then as he lost in the semi-finals. I was amazed just to see him run. Apparently so was Kirani James of Grenada who came first in that semi-finals and went on to win the gold. At the end of the semi-finals, James traded name tags with Pistorius, out of respect. 

Oscar is a committed Christian. Just ask him why he needs Jesus in his life: "Because He is the reason for my success and the One that takes me from strength to strength.” I like that answer. It is consistent with his sporting motto: You are not disabled by the disabilities you have; you are able by the abilities you have. He knows that personal greatness comes from He Who enables him.

Still, I can imagine Oscar Pistorius looks forward to that time when the greatness of the Lord will reach the ends of the earth and he, Oscar, will run on healthy, intact limbs.

Nancy P