Paralympic Games

The Paralympic flame is on its way to the Olympic Stadium, and tonight sees the opening ceremony.

The journey since the original Stoke Mandeville Games of 1948 is immense. Then there was an archery tournament for patients recovering from spinal injuries. By 1960, there were 400 athletes competing in Rome. This year, there will be 4,200 athletes from all around the world.

In every case, athletes have had to overcome astonishing obstacles, and have shown that character and determination has been essential, in contributing to their own progress.

Most of us do not face these sorts of challenges, but there is much to learn from the stories behind these athletes. I hope we will all be inspired.

St. Paul, another inspiring person who had to face astonishing obstacles, had learned that weakness and frailty were God's gifts to him, when he learned how to trust God in a deeper way.

Paul has been telling his troublesome friends in Corinth of an extraordinary experience he had been given, in which he glimpsed heaven itself. Such an experience could have made Paul very smug. So he then goes on. 'To keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. 

Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. 

For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12.7-10)

Scholars have long wondered what sort of disability, this thorn in the flesh, was. Interestingly, because we do not know, we are able to apply the principle to any and all troubles we may face.

All of us do face challenges - whether they are physical, emotional, intellectual, social or whatever - and I know that I feel very weak much of the time. 'How will I cope?' goes through my mind often. 

The lesson I learn from both the astonishing Paralympians and St. Paul is that in the hands of the Lord, my weaknesses can be an asset.

Best wishes,

Richard