Inspiration from everyday life

[Ashok]

Life is such a beautiful gift as long as it runs smoothly. However, the moment there is a slight tremor in life and we are unable to find any meaning in life. Grief does give us an opportunity to introspect, no doubt. However, can we lift our spirits up even in adverse circumstances of life rather than moaning about the hardships? If yes we have served our purpose on this earth.

If you are aware of real life stories of people who have risen above their limitations because of FAITH, DETERMINATION, PERSEVERANCE, HARD WORK etc. please share.

Even you might have ordealed against some of the worst moments in life, which were difficult but were overcame by your determination.
Please share them for all of us.

[Ashok]

Nick Vujicic (born 4 December 1982) is a motivational speaker and the director for Life Without Limbs, an organization that is for the physically disabled


First born child into his devout Serbian Christian family, Nick Vujicic was born in Sunnybank, Brisbane, Australia, limbless, missing both arms at shoulder level, and having one small foot with two toes protruding from his left thigh. Initially his parents were devastated, however Nick turned out to be otherwise perfectly healthy.

His life was filled with difficulties and hardships. One such hardship was not being able to attend a mainstream school because of his physical disability, as the law of Australia required, even though he was not mentally impaired. During his schooling, the laws were changed, and Nick was one of the first disabled students to be migrated to a mainstream school. He learned to write using the two toes on his left "foot", and a special device that slid onto his big toe to grip. He also learned to use a computer and type using the "heel and toe" method (as demonstrated in his speeches). He can also throw tennis balls and answer the phone (also demonstrated in speeches).

Being bullied at his school, Nick grew extremely depressed, and by the age of eight, started contemplating suicide. After begging God to grow arms and legs, Nick eventually began to realize that his accomplishments were inspirational to many, and began to thank God he was alive. When he was seventeen, he started to give talks at his prayer group, and eventually starting his non-profit organization, Life Without Limbs.


Nick graduated from college at the age of 21 with as a double major in Accounting and Financial Planning. He began his travels as a motivational speaker, focusing on the topics that today's teenagers face. He also speaks in the corporate sector, however his aim is to become an international inspirational speaker, in both Christian and non-Christian venues. He regularly travels internationally to speak to Christian congregations, schools, and corporate meetings. He has spoken on four continents (Africa, Asia, Australia, and North America), in over 12 countries, and to over two million people face to face.

By the age of 25 he hopes to become financially independent, however he wishes to promote his words through shows like The Oprah Winfrey Show, as well as writing books. His first book, planned for completion by the end of 2009, is to be called No Arms, No Legs, No Worries!

A DVD, Life's Greater Purpose, is available on the Life Without Limbs website. Most of the DVD was filmed in 2005, featuring a brief documentary about his home life, and how he does regular things without limbs. The second part of the DVD was filmed at his local church in Brisbane and was one of his first professional motivational speeches.

His secular DVD "No Arms, No Legs, No Worries" is available online through his corporate motivational speaking company "Attitude Is Altitude".

Nick's first worldwide television interview, featured on 20/20 (ABC) with Bob Cummings was aired on March 28, 2008.


The Life Without Limbs organization, which Vujicic founded in 2005, is aimed at giving people living with no limbs motivation and inspiration for their lives. This is done by giving speeches worldwide about Christian faith and the impact that faith in God can help the world.

He deals with topics like fear and rejection, depression, suffering, and even unanswered prayers. The speeches take place in both Christian and non-Christian environments including churches, schools, and other venues.

He will appear in an upcoming BodyShock documentary which documents his life. The documentary is entitled 'Born without Limbs' and will be broadcast on May 5th 2008.

[Ashok]

Therese Neumann, also well-known by the name “Resl of Konnersreuth”, was born in Konnersreuth (Diocese of Regensburg) in the night of April 8 to 9, 1898, the night of Good Friday to Holy Saturday. She was the first of eleven children of a rather poor tailor’s family. From 1904 to 1911 she attended the village school of Konnersreuth, which she left with good results. As a healthy and sturdy girl she started work with a neighbouring farmer and had to labour physically hard on his farm. In those years she expressed the wish to become a missionary sister and to go to Africa as soon as she was no longer needed at home. Already then she got in touch with the Benedictine Missionary Nuns of Tutzing (Upper Bavaria).

But soon her life should take a different course from what she had planned and expected. As a result of an accident when helping to put out a fire on March 10, 1918 she was paralysed. Since mid-March 1919 she also became totally blind in addition to paralysis.

Therese Neumann put up with this hard fate with great submission to God’s will, accompanied by her devoted pastor and parish priest Rev. Josef Naber. But on April 29, 1923 her blindness suddenly disappeared. It was the day of the Beatification of Therese of Lisieux. From her father who was on duty in France Resl had got a prayer card of this venerable French Carmelite Nun she had highly revered since that time. Her paralysis however persisted. Few years later, on March 17, 1925, the day of the Canonization of Therese of Lisieux, she also felt healed from her paralysis and made first attempts to walk. Some months later, on September 30, the anniversary of the death of St Therese of Lisieux, she was able to walk alone without help.

During Lent 1926 phenomena that caused great sensation appeared. Resl had visions of the life and suffering of Jesus – the question of their genuineness is being examined at present – her body also showed the stigmata of Christ (stigmatization).

Since then until her death she suffered the Passion of Christ on her own body, an incident which attracted and led thousands of people to Konnersreuth. Thus Resl became known worldwide. Devotees, but also critics, gave their view on these occurrences and the other extraordinary phenomena.

Since August 1926 she no longer felt any hunger so she refused to eat any food. At first she only took some drops of water after receiving the Holy Communion, but from September 1927 until her death she also abstained completely. Her only nourishment remained the Host, the Eucharistic Bread, which she received daily. Therefore the Bishop’s Consistory of Regensburg placed her in the hands of a medical commission to investigate her under strict surveillance in 1927.

Not least Therese Neumann had an alert feeling for the dangers of the spirit of the times. So she bravely resisted the regime of National Socialism by gathering a circle of like-minded friends around herself. She supported them and gave advice. Among them was Dr. Fritz Gerlich, who as a confessing Christian in his fight against the Nazi-Regime, lost his life in the Concentration Camp Dachau, as well as the Capuchin Pater Ingbert Naab, who died in exile. Even bishops and cardinals asked her for advice. But she always remained the simple tailor’s daughter who disliked any sensation about her preson. Her love and attention above all focussed on the sick and dying as well as on flowers and birds as God’s creation. In the spirit of atonement she willingly suffered for others. Thanks to her initiative the Seminary for Late Vocations Fockenfeld and the Adoration Convent Theresianum Konnersreuth came into being.

After a short illness Resl died in the reputation of sanctity on September 18, 1962. She was buried in a crypt at the cemetry of her small home town. Then and now her grave has been the destination of numerous devotees. It testifies that prayers for intercession attributed to Resl have been granted, but it also shows the great confidence in her by the faithful then and now.