Unstoppable (30 page)
Authors: Nick Vujicic
You and I should not live with the expectations that happiness will come
some
day after we accomplish
some
goal or acquire
some
thing. Happiness should be available to you in each moment, and the way to access it is to live in balance spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically.
One way to determine the balance that works for you is to look toward the end of your life and then live so that you will have no regrets when you arrive there. The idea is to create a clear image of the type of person you
want to be as you age and the mark you hope to make, so that every step of your journey takes you closer to where you want to arrive.
I believe if you create the life you want in your imagination, it is possible to create it in reality minute by minute, hour by hour, and day by day. Instead of a business plan or a house plan, consider this your life plan. Some advise that the way to do this is to think about your own funeral and ponder what you would want your family and friends to say about you, your character, your accomplishments, and how you impacted their lives. Maybe that works for you, but I don’t like to think about leaving my loved ones behind—even if I’m going to be with God in heaven.
Instead, I prefer to put myself in Reverend Graham’s position on that day we met in his mountain cabin. Here was this great man nearing the end of a remarkable life in which he’d done so much of God’s work, and he still had a few regrets. It may be inevitable. Few achieve a perfectly balanced life, but I think it’s worth a try. I hope you do too.
I don’t want to have any regrets at all, which may not be possible. But I’m going to do my best. So I’ve reset the Nick lifemeter with the needle on Balance. You might take a moment to do the same if you feel, as I do, that we all need to pause now and then to examine where we’ve been, where we are now, where we want to go, and how to become a person who will be remembered for making a positive difference in the world.
Even without the benefit of legs, I’ve spent most of my twenties running at full speed, which is probably what you’d expect of a young single guy with a global ministry and a business too. I’ve tended to carry the weight of the world on my shoulders. With my nonprofit and my business, I’ve borne a lot of responsibility. Reverend Graham advised me to share more of the burden and to enjoy a more balanced life built around my faith and my family. I think God must have been talking through His faithful
servant Billy Graham, because I’d also heard that message at the Switzerland conference where I met his daughter.
AKING THE
G
LOBAL
V
IEW
Anne Graham Lotz and I both attended the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos in 2011. I was on a panel for the last event of the forum, a session titled “Inspired for a Lifetime.” My fellow panelists were inspiring beyond words. They included the German economist Klaus Schwab, who is founder and chairman of the World Economic Forum, and Christine Lagarde, who was then France’s minister of economic affairs, finances, and industry but shortly thereafter was named to lead the International Monetary Fund. Also on the panel were two young dynamos from the Global Changemakers organization—a global community of young activists, innovators, and entrepreneurs—Daniel Joshua Cullum of New Zealand and Raquel Helen Silva of Brazil.
As others have noted, the World Economic Forum is sometimes characterized unfairly as a very dry meeting in which “gray men in gray suits with gray imaginations get together to schmooze.” In truth, it is a meeting of more than two thousand diverse men and women, most of them leaders in their fields, and the topics cover a wide and fascinating range. Our session was far from dry. In fact, everyone on the panel and in the packed audience had tears in their eyes at one point or another.
Remarkably, I received at least two hugs from Christine Lagarde that day! She was very warm to me and said I inspired her with my work. I’m sure my former professors of financial planning and accounting would have been proud to see their student so kindly treated by the soon-to-be head of the International Monetary Fund. (You can see my presentation on
YouTube.com
just by searching for my name and “World Economic Forum.” The video of our session is one of the most viewed on the Internet from the 2011 forum.)
Our discussion in Switzerland focused on finding ways to make the world a better place, and we delved into spiritual matters as well. Anne Graham Lotz recalled that the entire forum had a very spiritual element to it, which is unusual. Professor Schwab himself said during the event that answers to the problems the world is facing politically and economically will come from the faith community, in which he included Christians, Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists.
Anne Graham Lotz later wrote on her website (
www.annegrahamlotz.com
) that at the forum she “saw Jesus in righteousness and justice, shaking the world’s business and economic leaders by exposing the greed and self-serving interests that have dominated policies for decades. As a result, many leaders now seem open to the need for shared values, and are looking for answers beyond the traditional bastions of power and conventional wisdom. Could God be allowing the world to face problems that seem to have no human solution, so that its leaders will look up? God will give them wisdom, insight, and solutions that are beyond their considerable intellectual knowledge and experience if they will turn to Him.”
Like Anne, I was heartened by the open discussions on the power of faith in action at this gathering of global leaders. Of course, it didn’t escape me that I was a guest speaker at the World Economic Forum just shortly after experiencing my own personal economic crisis. God really does have a sense of humor, doesn’t He?
As I mentioned earlier, I also believe God was trying to deliver a message about leading a more balanced life at the forum, as well as through Reverend Graham at his cabin a few months later. In fact, the message in
Davos came from the WEF founder himself. Our panel leader, Professor Schwab, spoke about managing a personal balance sheet, which, unlike a business balance sheet, should show that at the end of your life, you gave out more than you took in. Christine Lagarde, who knows a thing or two about balance sheets, added that even when our lives aren’t in perfect balance, we can make contributions to the lives of others, even if all we have to give is a smile or a kind word.
ULL
E
NGAGEMENT
When such wise people talk of living in balance, we should feel encouraged to find fulfillment in all aspects of life—in mind, body, heart, and spirit—so that you keep growing and thriving in your mental prowess, your physical health, your emotional well-being, and in the strength of your faith.
Maintaining an absolutely perfect balance in all four areas is probably not a realistic goal with all the pressures in our lives. After all, our poor brains can get overtaxed, our bodies break down, relationships ebb and flow, and living according to our faith requires constant vigilance and adjustments. Still, being aware of each element and striving to achieve balance is a worthy goal. My hope is that I’ll be able to reach the end of my life and know that I’ve done my best, as imperfect as I may be.
With Kanae in my life now, and with our plans to begin a family someday, I want to take care of myself for the sake of those I love. I can no longer selfishly stress my body by working too hard, not eating well, and neglecting to exercise. I have to remain in control of my emotions so that I can put my wife first by being attentive, encouraging, and supportive of her needs in that arena. Mentally, I want to keep growing my knowledge base so that I can keep up with her and be a source of wisdom for our children. Spiritually, well, this is an especially critical area for both of us since we
hope to work together as Christian evangelists who inspire and lead others to Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
We all have to decide what works best for us, fulfills us, and gives us the greatest sense of control and contentment in our interior and exterior lives. If you are feeling out of sync, stuck, unmotivated, or unloved, then you may need to get back into alignment. Reflect on each area of your life and consider whether you’ve paid enough attention to each. Then devise a plan for addressing anything you’ve neglected in the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual realms.
A few things to keep in mind when seeking balance:
1. You are uniquely made, so you must determine what “balance” means for you based on your circumstances, relationships, and needs. A single person will surely have different criteria than someone who is married or a parent. As your situation and circumstances change, your balance will likely shift. The important thing is to be aware of the need to maintain harmony in all areas of your life and to stand ready to make adjustments when needed.
2. Maintaining balance is not about being in control. You can’t control all aspects of life anymore than you can control every driver and every car on the road with you. The best you can do is to remain alert to all possibilities and be flexible and thoughtful in your responses.
3. Don’t feel you have to go it alone. Australians and Americans especially suffer from the solitary hero or Lone Ranger complex. My parents will enjoy this one because their son Nick wasn’t the best at sharing his feelings and listening to advice in his younger years. Often, I had to do things my way, and that led to many lessons learned the hardheaded way. You will probably make the same mistakes, but at least be open to the possibility that those
who care the most about you may have some advice worth heeding. Consider that maybe they aren’t trying to control you. Instead, they may be trying to help you. Listening to them is not a sign of weakness or dependence. It is a sign of strength and maturity.
4. Go with your gifts and passions. The most balanced, stable, happy, and fulfilled people I know are those who build their lives around the continuous development and full expression of their talents and interests. They don’t have jobs or even careers. They have passion and purpose. They are fully engaged. If you do what you love and earn a living from it, you will never have to work a day in your life, and retirement will be what other people do.
5. When you aren’t getting what you want, try giving it. If you can’t catch a break, why not provide one? If no one is reaching out to you, reach out to someone whose needs are greater than yours. Take the focus off your problems and help someone deal with theirs. What have you got to lose other than self-pity? Sometimes the best way to heal your own body, mind, heart, and spirit is to serve as a source of comfort and support to someone around you. Filling the bucket of someone else may replenish your own.
6. Live in a constant state of gratitude, and laugh whenever possible. You will have days in which life seems to drop one load of bricks after another on you. The best way to escape that pile is to rise above it. Gratitude and good humor are the great elevators of life. Instead of cursing the bricks that bruise you, be thankful for the opportunity to face challenges and grow from them. If nothing else, simply give thanks to God for another day and the chance to make a difference, to take another step forward, to laugh with those you love.
OR
E
VERYTHING
T
HERE
I
S A
S
EASON
We are all connected. We all have the same basic human needs to love and be loved. We all want to serve a purpose and to know that our lives have value. Living in balance also means living in harmony with others, which may require giving up yourself to share in something greater—a fuller life.
I was a single man for so long that when I finally found a loving relationship, I had to make some quick adjustments. I had wanted to share my life with someone, but in some ways I wasn’t prepared for what that actually meant. My balance was thrown off because my life was no longer just mine. It was like having someone else jump into your canoe. Suddenly, everything shifts. You have to adjust your position. The load is greater but so is your paddle power. Now, it is a matter of working together to get where you both want to go while keeping the boat upright.
Suddenly Kanae’s wants, needs, and feelings are a consideration. What is important to her has to become important to me. All our relationships are intertwined. Now, my priorities are God, Kanae, our family and friends, and everything else, in that order.
My goal, which I hope you will share with me, is to always put my unstoppable faith into action so that the love of God in my heart is obvious in the way I treat and serve my wife and everyone else in my life. To have faith is not enough. You have to exercise your faith, act upon it, and share it so that others are inspired to love God as you do.
Some people know the Word of God and go to church, but they don’t know the power of the Holy Spirit. They don’t have a personal relationship with the Lord, which comes only when you step out and put your faith into action. I’ve learned that whenever I live to honor God and serve others, He multiplies the blessings.
I have been tremendously blessed to have such a wonderful board of directors and staff at Life Without Limbs. They encourage me, pray for me, and are used by God to keep me grounded. I have my uncle Batta Vujicic, who was instrumental in believing that the Lord did indeed call me to be a vessel for His use. He saw this ten years ago and was used by the Lord to help establish a base and headquarters in the United States, together with the other board members: David Price, Don McMaster, and Reverend Dan’l Markham. I am blessed to have people who believe in the ministry of Life Without Limbs. They not only pray for us but also financially support us to help us serve and inspire millions of people around the world.
Many people support me with their prayers, which have been a great source of strength and encouragement. Uncle Batta had a vision that encouraged me, and this is his description of it:
Several years ago, Nick came to our home to join our family circle for dinner and to relax. After dinner we spent a substantial part of the evening strategizing and planning new ministry visions and activities. It was that night after Nick went home that I had a dream that was very real and vivid.
When I woke up, I shared my experience with my wife, Rita. In my vision I was in a large assembly when an unidentified person got up and with a loud voice aggressively asked me, “Who is Nick Vujicic?” Without further thoughts my instant reply to that person was, “Look up Acts 9:15.”
That scenario repeated itself, but it was another person from the same assembly who asked me the same question in a loud and insistent voice, “Who is Nick Vujicic?”
I repeated my answer, “Look up Acts 9:15.”
After verbalizing my dream to my wife, I asked her if she knew what this passage in Acts 9:15 was saying. Neither one of us at the time knew what the verse contained, so we reached for the Bible, opened up to the book of Acts 9:15. This is what that scripture says, “Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.”
That following Sunday, I shared my vision with our congregation of the La Puente Church as a testimony for Nick’s ministry and his involvement in furthering the gospel of Jesus Christ and His kingdom. I have declared my testimony of this vision and will continue to do so with a firm belief that Nick is a chosen vessel of the Lord. It is evident that Nick’s fulfillment of the Great Commission is in the heart of the Life Without Limbs ministry and is aligned with our Lord’s commandment as stated in Mark 16:15, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
Further, a similar parallel account is declared in Revelation 14:6–7: “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” Also in Mark 13:10: “And the gospel must first be published among all nations.”
The vision that I had years ago and the overwhelming evidence of the Lord’s opening countless doors for the ministry in order for Nick to declare the Good News continues to be an encouragement to me. As the Lord guides me, I will continue supporting Nick and
the ministry of Life Without Limbs, both as a brother and director of that nonprofit organization, as long as I am confident that he has not compromised doctrinal truths and that he has not jeopardized the position of being a chosen vessel of God—and as long as he remains faithful, transparent, sincere, humble, and meek.