Resources

COLUMNIST

Lesson from a geriatric ward

with Joni Eareckson Tada

I was recently asked a question that took me back. Way back. A friend asked:“Joni, when were you able to finally get your focus off your quadriplegia? When were you able to start focusing on others?”

It was a good question. I often say there is always someone whose needs are more critical than your own. There are scores of people who need more help than you do. So, who were those people in my life?

I thought back to when I was first injured, times when I hated being paralysed. Those were dark, despairing days. Back in the Sixties, there were no modern rehabilitation centres for young people with spinal-cord injury, so I was sent to a state institution on the other side of the city. They put me on the geriatric unit up on the third floor where I lived in a six-bed ward.

The ward was cramped and always seemed to smell of urine. My roommates were mostly girls my age with spinal-cord injury or multiple sclerosis. They didnít like being stuck on a geriatric ward either, but there wasn't much we could do about it - the state institution was the only "rehab" centre within 500 miles.

For two years I struggled through rehab. When I finally left the hospital, I was glad to return home to a supportive family. My friends took me to the mall, to movies and to Bible study. I got involved with my church again. I even began to take a few classes at the University of Maryland.

My depression and despair slowly lifted as the Lord Jesus began replacing my emptiness and bitterness with himself. Life was beginning to look hopeful. I was even asked to share my testimony and tell others what God was doing in my life.

But still, my focus was fixed inward. I was focused on my classes in college. On getting a job. On making a living. On going out with my friends. On doing things with my family. My interests were limited to things and people that were a part of my life.

About eight years later, I had to go back across town to the same state institution for a check-up. I will never forget visiting the third floor after my medical exam. I wanted to see my old six-bed ward.

When I got out of the elevator and wheeled down the long corridor, I noticed the halls were still lined with older people sitting in their wheelchairs. Finally I reached my ward. But I got quite a shock when I turned the corner into my room. I was stunned to see two of my old roommates still living there. They were even in their same beds. Eight years later!

My first reaction was shame. Why hadnít I visited that institution earlier? Why had I never bothered to check to see if my roommates were still there? Was I so focused on myself that I stopped caring about others? Yes, came the convicting reply in my conscience. The Lord has given you so many blessings, Joni - health, friends, your church, college, vacations - and you have hoarded them to yourself.

That one visit did more to push me out of my comfort zones than any book, sermon, or lecture on helping others I'd ever heard up to that point.

Psalm 12:5 says: “'Because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,' says the Lord.” When I saw my friends still sitting by their hospital beds, something in me - I'm sure it was the Lord - arose too. I knew I had to jerk my focus off my interests, and pass on God's blessings to others. I said: 'I will now arise!'”

From then on, Philippians 2: 4 became my theme: "Do not cherish inflated ideas of your own importance, but learn to think of others as better than yourselves. Learn to look out for the interests of others." To this day, whenever we hold a Family Retreat at Joni and Friends, whenever I help deliver wheelchairs with our Wheels for the World teams, those two roommates in that institution often come to mind.They taught me to look out for the interests of others.

It's a lesson I learned - almost eight years too late - on a geriatric ward.

Joni Eareckson Tada is an internationally acclaimed author, singer and artist. Paralysed for over 35 years, she serves as an advocate for disabled people worldwide. Her UK organisation is Through the Roof (CH), PO Box 353, Epsom, Surrey KT18 5WS; phone 01372 749955

© Christian Family Network
is run by CPO, supported by
Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting,
Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.


		COLUMNIST Lesson from a geriatric ward with Joni Eareckson Tada I was recently asked a question that took me back. Way back. A friend asked:“Joni, when were you able to finally get your focus off your quadriplegia? When were you able to start focusing on others?” It was a good question. I often say there is always someone whose needs are more critical than your own. There are scores of people who need more help than you do. So, who were those people in my life? I thought back to when I was first injured, times when I hated being paralysed. Those were dark, despairing days. Back in the Sixties, there were no modern rehabilitation centres for young people with spinal-cord injury, so I was sent to a state institution on the other side of the city. They put me on the geriatric unit up on the third floor where I lived in a six-bed ward. The ward was cramped and always seemed to smell of urine. My roommates were mostly girls my age with spinal-cord injury or multiple sclerosis. They didnít like being stuck on a geriatric ward either, but there wasn't much we could do about it - the state institution was the only "rehab" centre within 500 miles. For two years I struggled through rehab. When I finally left the hospital, I was glad to return home to a supportive family. My friends took me to the mall, to movies and to Bible study. I got involved with my church again. I even began to take a few classes at the University of Maryland. My depression and despair slowly lifted as the Lord Jesus began replacing my emptiness and bitterness with himself. Life was beginning to look hopeful. I was even asked to share my testimony and tell others what God was doing in my life. But still, my focus was fixed inward. I was focused on my classes in college. On getting a job. On making a living. On going out with my friends. On doing things with my family. My interests were limited to things and people that were a part of my life. About eight years later, I had to go back across town to the same state institution for a check-up. I will never forget visiting the third floor after my medical exam. I wanted to see my old six-bed ward. When I got out of the elevator and wheeled down the long corridor, I noticed the halls were still lined with older people sitting in their wheelchairs. Finally I reached my ward. But I got quite a shock when I turned the corner into my room. I was stunned to see two of my old roommates still living there. They were even in their same beds. Eight years later! My first reaction was shame. Why hadnít I visited that institution earlier? Why had I never bothered to check to see if my roommates were still there? Was I so focused on myself that I stopped caring about others? Yes, came the convicting reply in my conscience. The Lord has given you so many blessings, Joni - health, friends, your church, college, vacations - and you have hoarded them to yourself. That one visit did more to push me out of my comfort zones than any book, sermon, or lecture on helping others I'd ever heard up to that point. Psalm 12:5 says: “'Because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise,' says the Lord.” When I saw my friends still sitting by their hospital beds, something in me - I'm sure it was the Lord - arose too. I knew I had to jerk my focus off my interests, and pass on God's blessings to others. I said: 'I will now arise!'” From then on, Philippians 2: 4 became my theme: "Do not cherish inflated ideas of your own importance, but learn to think of others as better than yourselves. Learn to look out for the interests of others." To this day, whenever we hold a Family Retreat at Joni and Friends, whenever I help deliver wheelchairs with our Wheels for the World teams, those two roommates in that institution often come to mind.They taught me to look out for the interests of others. It's a lesson I learned - almost eight years too late - on a geriatric ward. Joni Eareckson Tada is an internationally acclaimed author, singer and artist. Paralysed for over 35 years, she serves as an advocate for disabled people worldwide. Her UK organisation is Through the Roof (CH), PO Box 353, Epsom, Surrey KT18 5WS; phone 01372 749955 © Christian Family Network is run by CPO, supported by Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting, Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.