We previously introduced our talk about Sparsh, the young man who was deprived of the ability to move due to osteoporosis, yet it could not deprive him from happiness, his strong will and his cheerful spirit as well as his singing and writing talents. I saw in him an example of restlessness before his disease. He refused to be deprived of his life due to feeling of despair. He managed to see hope amid despair and to hold into it, while others may surrender to trivial problems, that will never affect their multiple life graces, to let their lives dominated by sadness and despair.
Another interesting thing about Sparsh is his choices that made him distinguished amid many who faced such difficulties. While some choose the way of evoking people’s sympathy, he sat himself another goal, “I want to inspire I cannot sit down and cry over my disability or complain and mourn over my little portion of luck in life. I will never surrender to such negative feelings.” At every situation we go through, we find that we can do nothing but making a decision about difficulties whether to surrender to or to challenge and insist on overcoming them and also to help and inspire anyone who is at distress. This is what Sparsh demonstrated when saying, “This is why I want to be an artist. My dream is to give inspiration to people all over the world.”You have to choose.
Sparsh is not the only person, who challenges his life difficulties, but there is an example I always contemplate on especially because I met him before, he is H.H. late Pope Shenouda III. There is Nic or Nicholas Vujicic, the man without limbs. He became the source of solace and hope to many.
The life of both examples, though the difference of health problem, was influenced by others: Nic mentioned that his victory over the conflicts of his life, that made him try to get rid of it once while he was at 10, was due to his deep faith in God and the support he received from his family and friends as well many who motivate him to keep going and to overcome the obstacles he faced. He answered, “Basically, all people around me motivate me one way or another”. In their words I find how we have a great role to fulfill toward all people.
Many may think that a smile or word of encouragement is not enough and will not change the reality of those who face difficulties… to be continued
General Bishop
Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center
