Dis/En - abled

1 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. - John 9:1-7

The Butterfly Circus

A few years ago I went to a baby's birthday party. All of the normal birthday stuff was there; chips, drinks, cupcakes, etc. It was great getting to see an old friend and meet some of the family, however the highlight of the party was a conversation I had with one of the attendees. He asked me if I had ever seen the short film, 'The Butterfly Circus'. To the shock of the guy I was talking to I confessed that I had never heard of the film. He insisted that the entire party stop so we could all watch it together. 

At first I thought the guy was a little too excited about a short film, but I indulged him along with everyone else. As I watched the film tears began flowing and I found myself deeply touched by the story of a young man who was born with no arms and no legs. The young man's name was Will. Will worked in a circus as a sideshow freak who spent his days being stared at and called 'a perversion of nature,' and a man, 'whom God himself has turned his back upon.'

During one of the shows an unlikely visitor named Magnus walked up to Will and declared in a soft voice, 'You are Magnificent'. After discovering that Magnus ran a traveling show full of talented, yet unlikely circus performers called 'The Butterfly Circus' Will decided to join them. For some time Will did not know how he fit in to the group, though he felt welcomed and valued among them. 

One day, while his circus friends were swimming in a river Will got a little too close to the edge and fell into the water. In a desperate struggle to survive Will discovered that he was able to swim. Amazed, Will's new friends celebrated with him and added Will's amazing swimming ability to the circus act.

In one of the final scenes of the film a young boy in crutches hobbled up to Will and without a word embraced Will in a huge hug. Will accepted the boy's hug and looked up at the boy's mother who simply said, 'Thank You.' Will had given hope to a hurting boy who had none. 

Disabilities can exist to display God's work

Everyone has a weakness. Everyone experiences feelings of inadequacy from time to time. In the story of Jesus healing the man born blind we read Jesus saying to his disciples, 'It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.

Jesus' disciples assumed from the start that the man was born blind for one of two reasons: either he or his parents had sinned to cause the birth defect. They thought it was some kind of punishment from God on the man. Jesus saw the disability in a completely different light. Jesus knew that the man or his parents were not being punished for a specific sin. Instead, Jesus saw the disability as an opportunity to display God's greatness!

Our Weakness, God's Strength

Many of us wonder why we find ourselves in difficult circumstances. We ask God why we are weak and why he allows us to go through painful trials. Some of our weakness and struggles do come due to sin we commit, however much of our hardship exists for a completely different reason; so God can display his greatness through us. Sadly, many people never come to realize that God delights to work in and through weakness.

The Apostle Paul says it like this:

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 

Are you struggling? God can use you! Are you weak? God can use you! Are you disabled? God can use you!

If you can relate to this post, please share your story in the comments below!

To watch 'The Butterfly Circus' in full click here.