Life as a gift.In my youth I didn't did·n't Contraction of did not. didn't did not didn't do always feel that life was a gift. In fact, even after finding a faith, the saying, 'Life is a gift', has been problematic for me. Recently I had the privilege of living in Cambodia. There, with the legacy of the Pol Pot Pol Pot, 1925–98, Cambodian political leader, originally named Saloth Sar. Paris-educated, and a Khmer Communist leader from 1960, he led Khmer Rouge guerrillas against the government of Lon Nol after 1970. regime, I found myself asking, 'If my legs were blown off by a landmine, would life still be a gift?' Trite as it may sound from a Westerner-unlikely-to-have-her-legs-blown-off-by-a-landmine, my answer had to be 'Yes'. This is because of my (perhaps naive naive - Untutored in the perversities of some particular program or system; one who still tries to do things in an intuitive way, rather than the right way (in really good designs these coincide, but most designs aren't "really good" in the appropriate sense). ) belief that God's love never ends; and that 'underneath are the everlasting everlasting or immortelle (ĭm'ôrtĕl`), names for numerous plants characterized by papery or chaffy flowers that retain their form and often their color when dried and are used for winter bouquets and decorations. arms'. This was not an easy answer to arrive at. I also recognize my need for the answer to be 'Yes': a) to stay sane sane (san) sound in mind. sane adj. Of sound mind; mentally healthy. sane ; and b) to keep striving to make a difference, which is what this magazine is all about. This issue features disabled people overcoming their difficulties in an incredible way. Few can fail to be impressed im·press 1 tr.v. im·pressed, im·press·ing, im·press·es 1. To affect strongly, often favorably: and inspired by the two paralysed men who, against all the odds, have founded a community for disabled youth in Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (tăm`əl nä`d  ), formerly Madras (mədrăs`, mədräs`), state (2001 provisional pop. , India. The same is true of the African artist on the front cover, who conducts workshops for the young and old, at home and abroad. These three men not only have their own disabilities to contend with but also the obvious challenges that go with living in the Third World. They teach me just how lucky I am; and their stories remind me of the responsibility I have to serve others, and in so doing become the person I am meant to be. Last Christmas a new word entered the vocabulary of millions-tsunami. It ushered in, in an unforgettable way, 'the year of the natural disaster'. Now, with the very real threat of bird-flu, people are wondering whether 2006 will be 'the year of the pandemic'. But, whatever happens, it could be experienced as 'the year of the miracle'. That will depend on the daily choice of each one to see the gifts, so easily overlooked, in us and around us. 'Whenever you see darkness,' encourages U2 singer Bono, 'there is extraordinary opportunity for the light to burn brighter.' |
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