The Sunday Mail
Lynell Dangarembizi My Perspective
WHY did God create disabled people? I have been asked this question many times, and I always give the same answer. God loves variety. The Lord created black and white people, men and women, tall and short, fat and slim. Why because He loves variety. Just take a second and imagine a world filled only with men . . . it would have been a disaster.
God also created the disabled and able-bodied. Please note though different, no human being is more superior than the other, the only difference is that we are gifted differently.
God’s original plan was to create human beings who would co-exist and mutually depend on each other’s gifting.
The world was turned upside down with the advent of sin. Issues of slavery and male domination came into play. The marginalisation and discrimination of disabled people also came into effect. But like I said earlier, God created all of us equal but gifted differently. In essence we cannot live without each other.
The sad thing about oppression is that most often the victim will start to think that they deserve to be oppressed and are inferior to the oppressor. This is far from the truth. To free themselves from oppression and male chauvinism, black people and women have had to fight to be treated as equal human beings who are made in the image of God.
It has taken time and it has not been easy. But we are now living in a world where people are no longer judged by the colour of their skin and gender orientation which was always the plan of God.
Here is the challenge, disabled people still have to travel the same road. To be treated as equals to our able-bodied counterparts and to enjoy the full rights of being a citizen of Zimbabwe will not come on a silver platter. We have to fight, and only stop when we reach the “Promised Land”. Before embarking on this journey of freedom and self-realisation, there are a few steps that have to be undertaken.
Acceptance
Disabled people have to learn to accept themselves, and believe they are not a mistake. A complete change of mindset is needed. God made you that way to fulfill a particular purpose and self denial will only delay the manifestation of our God given destiny. It’s the same as an eagle refusing to fly because it desired to be born a lion, what a tragedy!
Talents and Abilities
After acceptance, God gives you a sense of self worth and value. The next stage is to discover your talents and abilities. Once discovered, every gift has to be thoroughly developed through practice and constant use.
Purpose
Your purpose is the reason why you were born, God made you to fulfill a particular assignment that is only unique to yourself. It’s really not difficult to find one’s purpose and as Myles Munroe says, “ . . . it screams at you daily. It’s those thoughts that do not go away, that idea that keeps coming back . . .”
The things that you are good at, that you can do without training and also that are natural to you. For example I recently heard Bill Gates say Mathematics has always come natural to him and as he was growing up he excelled in the subject despite failing at other subjects. So even today when faced with a problem, he solves them by going back to Mathematics. Your purpose is usually right there in front of you, right under your noise.
Why because you were born with it and it goes everywhere with you. What questions do you ask? What are you passionate about? What are you angry about? What is your anger? An answer to these questions will get you closer to your purpose.
God in his divine wisdom created the world in such a way that specific problems can be solved by a specific group of people. For an example there are problems in this world that can only be solved by women. In the same way there are problems in this world that can only be solved by disabled people. Some of the problems that we are experiencing today as a nation are there because disabled people are yet to rise up and take their place.
Of the 15 million Zimbabweans, about two million are estimated to be disabled. Such figures can actually sway an entire election. So what we are talking about is not games. Our organisation, Rare Diamonds Network, and our various partners and affiliate organisations are lobbying Government to create a ministry specifically designed to cater for disabled people.
The Gifted People are not looking for handouts and pity, they are looking for a chance to utilise their God given gifts and help in the building of the country.
What we are asking for is not something out of the ordinary, because Government ministries are formed out of need. Once upon a time farmers came together and lobbied Government for a Ministry, and the Ministry of Agriculture was born. The women did the same, and the Ministry of Women Affairs was born.
Are we ready for this? Are we ready for what God is doing in our generation? The time for crying and feeling sorry for one self is over. If you want to be part of what God is doing you have to change your mindset and see yourself through the eyes of God. Till next time, “ Celebrate Your Uniqueness!”
Lynell Dangarembizi is the Founder of Rare Diamonds Network, an organisation established to celebrate gifted people. Feedback:[email protected]. WhatsApp +263772738117
