Sunday, April 27, 2003
Sunday, April 27, 2003
"You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit,
fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name."
The second paraplegic was Jim McGowan. Several ago at the age of 19, Jim was stabbed and
left paralyzed from the chest down. He is now confined to a wheelchair and has been for many
years. But he has been in the news recently because he made a successful parachute jump,
landing on his target in the middle of Lake Wallenpaupack in the Poconos. Newspeople learned
a number of interesting things about him. Jim lives alone, cooks his meals, washes his clothes,
and keeps and cleans his own home. He drives himself in his specially-equipped automobile. He
has written three books, and did the photography for the country's first book on the history of
wheel-chair sports. Three years ago he tried to swim the English Channel. Two paraplegics: one
chose life, the other did not.
Jesus chose us. We will choose the path that leads to true life?
(John
15.16
NRSV)
I was struck by the story of two paraplegics. One was Kenneth Wright, a high school football
star, boxer, hunter, and an avid wrestler. A broken neck, sustained in a wrestling match in 1979,
left Kenneth paralyzed from the chest down. He underwent therapy and his doctors were hopeful
that one day he would be able to walk with the help of braces and crutches. But, apparently the
former athlete could not reconcile himself to his physical disability. He prevailed upon two of his
best friends to take him in his wheelchair to a wooded area, where they left him alone with a
12-gauge shotgun. After they left, he held the shotgun to his abdomen and pulled the trigger,
Kenneth Wright, 24.
Loving God, life sometimes deals a very hard blow, but I will choose you above all else. Amen.
