IT HAS been an incredibly difficult year for millions of people around the world, with wars, terrorism, floods and millions of ordinary people forced to flee for their lives and leave their homes to endure misery as refugees. There has been such tragedy and misery across the globe that would be easy to sink into misery and hopelessness.
But that is not the point of life. If you have any belief in God, our purpose, surely, is to find the best out of our world and to keep going.
There have been so many good things in the midst of fear and terror – stories of people helping each other, aid workers endlessly giving of their time and skills and ordinary people donating money to ease the suffering.
And last week the fabulous news that 196 of the world’s leaders have agreed, finally, that global warming does exist and that we need, as a global force, to take some control and try to minimise pollution from fossil fuels, if there is to be any hope for future generations. This is fantastic news for us all, but most especially those in the poorest countries which always seem to suffer most from devastating weather episodes.
We forget in our heavily legislated and environmentally protected clean air, how much damage fossil fuels cause. On Saturday, Patrick and I were driving over the M3 Bridge and we saw a big plume of smoke. We thought there was a major fire somewhere but, as it turns out, it was a steam train, obviously fuelled by coal. The smoke was crazy.
It was frosty which would of course highlight the smoke but it was startling, and made us really appreciate how Belfast has changed since it went largely smokeless. I can remember as a student in the late 1980s walking back from classes when the smog was so thick you could barely see the street lights around Shaftesbury Square.
It is fantastic then that the world’s nations will hopefully take on board what many have been protesting about and campaigning for, for over 40 years. Of course there is still work to be done to keep the pressure on so that the agreement is ratified and we can start to see some changes. As individuals too we need to continue making useful decisions to minimise our own footprints on this beautiful planet.
It is important too to find some balance with the evil that some of our fellow men have been wrecking upon the world. I was inspired this week by a young Australian I heard about called Nick Vujicic. From Melbourne and aged 33, he was born with a rare condition called Phocomelia, which meant he was born without all four limbs. How would you ever cope with that?
But by age 17 Nick had found a way to create a life for himself, which incidentally includes playing football, diving off high boards in the pool and skydiving. He is now a Christian evangelist and motivational speaker who travels the world giving talks which focus on living with a disability, yet finding hope and meaning in life.
He is married with two young sons and has written several books including Life without Limbs: Inspiration for a ridiculously good life, Unstoppable: The incredible Power of Faith in Action, and Stand Strong – You Can Overcome Bullying (And Other Stuff That Keeps You Down).
If you would like to read the ultimate true love story get hold of a copy of Love Without Limits: A Remarkable Story of True Love Conquering All.
Nick says he created a “ridiculously good life.” But after dating disappointments and a failed relationship, he reached his mid-20s worried that he would never find a woman to love him and share his life.
Then he met Kanae and everything changed. But even with undeniable chemistry, they had to navigate twists and turns worthy of a romantic comedy before finally getting married. In Love without Limits Nick and Kanae tell how they improbably found each other, fell in love and then fought to overcome scepticism from others about their relationship.
Filled with practical insights that will benefit any couple, this inspiring book describes a godly courtship and the early years of the Vujicics’ marriage and parenting journey. Above all, Nick says, Love without Limits is an inspiring reminder that when Christ is at the centre of a relationship – even with serious challenges – true love will triumph.
Nick also runs a not-for-profit organisation call Attitude is Altitude and his whole premise for living is based on the attitude of be thankful, dream big and never give up. Check him out on You Tube – he is really laugh-out-loud funny, charismatic and amazing.
r.armstrong@irishnews.com
