He has travelled around the world and addressed over three million people in 44 countries on five continents. He speaks to corporate audiences, congregations and schools. He is also an author, a musician and an actor. Too much for one person, I definitely agree, but imagine doing all this without arms or legs.
Nicholas James "Nick" Vujicic was born in 1982 in Melbourne, Australia, with tetra-amelia syndrome, a rare disorder characterised by the absence of all four limbs. All this happened without any medical explanation or warning, three sonograms failed to reveal complications. Yet God works in mysterious ways. The Vujicic family was destined to cope with both the challenge and blessing of raising a son who refused to allow his physical condition to limit his lifestyle.
The early days were difficult. As a child, he struggled mentally and emotionally as well as physically, but eventually came to terms with his disability and started to give talks. At the age of 17, as God started to reveal his purpose, he founded his own international non-profit organisation, Life Without Limbs. Throughout his childhood, Nick not only dealt with the typical challenges of school and adolescence, but he also struggled with depression and loneliness. He constantly wondered why he was different from all the other kids.
He questioned the purpose of life, or if he even had a purpose. According to Nick, the victory over his struggles, as well as his strength and passion for life today, can be credited to his faith in God. His family, friends and the many people he has encountered along the journey have inspired him to carry on.
During secondary school, he was elected captain of Runcorn State High School in Queensland and worked with the student council on fundraising events for local charities and disability campaigns. Believe it or not his hobbies include fishing, painting and swimming. He graduated from Griffith University at the age of 21 with a Bachelor of Commerce degree, with a double major in Accountancy and Financial Planning.
Nick subsequently became a motivational speaker, travelling internationally and focusing on teenagers' issues. He promotes his work through television shows and through his writing. His first book, Life Without Limits: Inspiration for a Ridiculously Good Life was published in 2010. His motivational DVD, Life's Greater Purpose, is a short documentary filmed in 2005 highlighting his home life and regular activities.
In 2005 he was nominated for the Young Australian of the Year Award. Nick says, “If God can use a man without arms and legs to be His hands and feet, then He will certainly use any willing heart!”
In conclusion we can see that most people believe disability is a curse, but looking at the life of Nick this is far from the truth. The guy is one of Australia’s most celebrated sons and is known world over. But he had to be born that way, to reach the levels of life he has attained. Give him arms and legs and he would be a nobody. My encouragement to you today is: Do not look at your disability as a curse because within it lies your seeds of greatness. Till next week, DISCOVER YOUR PURPOSE!
Lynell Dangarembizi is the Founder and Executive Director of Rare Diamond Foundation an organisation established to help ‘Disabled People Discover their God Given Purpose In Life’. He can be contacted on lynelltd@ymail.com
Post published in: News