Are you too young or too old, too incapacitated or too disadvantaged
to make a difference?
Let me tell you about Mattie Stepanek, who will be fourteen this
year. Mattie has a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy. Three of his
siblings have died of the disease. His mother is also afflicted.
Mattie breathes through a tube in his neck and needs a wheelchair to
get around.
Mattie was asked a few years ago what he might wish for. He named
three things. He said he wanted to meet Oprah Winfrey, he wanted to
meet President Jimmy Carter, and he wanted to publish a book of his
poetry. (Mattie had been writing poetry since he was three.)
His wishes were all granted. He not only met Oprah, but also has
appeared on her show. He visited with President Jimmy Carter and spoke
with him about one of Mattie's favorite topics - world peace. After
talking to Carter, Mattie said that he thought he was on the right
track. He also had a book of his poetry published in 2000, when he was
only eleven! By January of 2001, it had soared to the top of the New
York Times best-seller list!
"Prayer for a Journey" was written when Mattie was just eight.
Thank You, God,
Not just for life,
But for our journey through life.
Life is a miracle,
And a journey through life
Is so full of so many more miracles
If we travel with our Heartsongs.
Thank You, God,
For blessing me with the
Gift of Heartsongs,
So that I can enjoy my miracles.
April 1998
From "Journey Through Heartsongs" (Hyperion Books, 2001)
http://www.mattieonline.com/.
If you were to ask Mattie what his purpose in life is he would answer,
"My life mission is to spread peace to the world." But isn't fourteen
too young to spread peace to the world? Isn't it too young to make a
real difference?
G. W. F. Hegel said, "Nothing great in the world has ever been
accomplished without passion." Maybe it's not about age, or physical
health or any of the things we usually associate with people who are
changing their own worlds and making a difference. If Hegel is right -
it's about passion. And passion is something Mattie Stepanek has
plenty of!
__________
Steve Goodier Publisher@... is a professional
speaker, consultant and author of numerous books. Visit his site for
more information, or to sign up for his FREE newsletter of Life, Love
and Laughter at http://LifeSupportSystem.com.