A Lesson in Gratitude

Oh, I say the measure of a man

Is not how tall you stand

How wealthy or intelligent you are.

'Cause I found out the measure of a man

God knows and understand

For He looks inside to the bottom of your heart.

And what's in the heart defines

The measure of a man.

That's the chorus of one of my favorite songs: The Measure Of A Man by 4Him. The lyrics have always resonated with me, but it wasn't until a friend emailed me a clip of Nick Vujicic that I saw someone who personified them. Last month during Sunday school, when I was teaching my college students about gratitude, I brought up his story:

He’s a 29-year-old Australian preacher and motivational speaker. At the age of 17 he started his own non-profit organization. He’s addressed over three million people in 25 countries. In 2005, he was nominated for the “Young Australian of the Year” Award. In 2009, he starred in a short film called “The Butterfly Circus” which won the first ever Clint Eastwood Filmmaker Award and for which Nick received Best Actor at a film festival. In 2010, he put out his first book, which became a best seller. And all this from a man who was born without arms or legs...

He contemplated suicide at eight years old. And at 10, he tried to drown himself, but he said that his love for his parents prevented him from going through with it. For a while he prayed for God to allow him to grow arms and legs, but soon came to the realization that his accomplishments could inspire others. In one of his speeches he said, “If you’re praying for a miracle, if God doesn’t give you the miracle; you will be the miracle for someone else.”

In the above video, Nick mentioned his desire to be married. Well, on February 12th of this year that dream came true when he tied the knot with his long-time girlfriend Kanae Miyahara.

Congratulations

and God bless.

 

(From the Ratish Naroor Photography web site)

Things that I (formerly) didn't know existed

The Champion Dog

(Photograph by REUTERS/Jon Nielsen. Arlington, Texas | Fri Mar 23, 2012)

An appropriate alternative name for this wiener monstrosity would be "Two Feet of Heart Attack Goodness on a Bun." Not only is this frankfurter nearly the size of a baseball bat, but it weighs one pound! Unfortunately (wait - maybe fortunately), the Champion Dog is only sold in the Lone Star State at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Now, before you book your flight to head down for a bite, be forewarned that this mutant dog will set you back by $26 and that its calorie count is insane. According to the operations manager of the team's food contractor, Sportservice, "it's got to be 2,000 or 3,000." Since the Jenny Craig diet permits up to 2,300 calories a day, I say go for it  :-9

Miss Snake Charmer Scholarship Pageant

(Photograph by Joy Lewis. Sweetwater, Texas | Sat Mar 10, 2012)

Texas is awesome. Not only do they have the Champion Dog, but they've got teenage girls who know how to skin and gut snakes like pros. One of the highlights of the annual Sweetwater Rattlesnake Round-Up, a three-day event which attracts 30,000 to 50,000 visitors, is the crowning of Miss Snake Charmer. According to the 2012 application announcement "girls between the ages of 16-19, living within a 75 mile radius of Sweetwater" can compete for the coveted title. Think America's Junior Miss meets Indiana Jones because after obtaining the tiara, the winner has to milk, flay, and decapitate snakes, the last of those duties requiring her to "hold a machete elegantly."

Snake Massages

(Photograph by Uriel Sinai/Stringer. Talmei Elazer, Israel | Thur Sept 11, 2008)

If, after visiting Texas, you STILL didn't get enough writhing reptiles, then head on over to Israel. There you can find spa owner Ada Barak who offers snake massages for $80. Depending on whether you desire muscle tension relief, which requires larger species, or a mild fluttering across the skin's surface, which smaller snakes "specialize" in, Barak's got you covered (no pun intended). Her serpentine sessions are an hour long and involve only creatures of the non-venomous persuasion. So, if you dare, venture to the Middle East and lay yourself out for what, I imagine, is the king of all tickle fests... or you could just see what it's like by watching this video.