A Blind Man Gives Vision (A Must-See Video)
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June 9, 2008Yesterday I caught Joel Osteen on television telling a story about Patrick Henry Hughes. He was born with crippled limbs and without eyes. Naturally his parents were devastated and wondered what they had done to deserve that. When Patrick was old enough to sit up, they put him on a piano stool and he began to learn the notes. At age two, he was taking requests. By grade school he was playing old standards and by high school he was playing the blues. When he got to college he was an accomplished pianist and trumpet player. Recognizing his tremendous gift, the college band director asked Patrick to play in the marching band which entertained thousands at the University of Louisville football games, etc. In order for this happen, his father gave up his day job and worked the graveyard shift at UPS so he could be at every practice and wheel his son in formation, spinning and turning with the rest of the band while his son blew the trumpet with gusto. What happened with Patrick is truly amazing, how he developed a gift God gave him that could easily have been missed. What also happened, was that a blind boy inspired vision in his parents. His mother "saw" the potential in him as she taught him piano. His father, instead of mourning the fact they could never play ball together, got a vision to play music together. The band director received vision when he "saw" the gift inside this young man. The gift by the way, was far more than a music ability. As much as anything, it was how Patrick interpreted life. When asked to describe his disabilities, he said, "Not disabilities at all, more abilities." I believe we tend not to see things the way they are but rather we see things the way we are. That should tell you a lot about Patrick and about yourself.
Having Trouble Viewing the Video? (Warning: following these links will cause you to leave this website!) Try to watch it on YouTube.com or Download the latest version of the Adobe Flash Player for your computerPatrick's example is removing the scales of self-imposed limitations that are blinding countless sighted people from "seeing" and fulfilling their vision. What's inside you? What's holding you back? What's your excuse? Gain some vision from this courageous young man, Patrick Henry, and from his family and begin stepping into the vision God has equipped you best to fulfill. As Helen Keller once said, "The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision." By the way, now when his parents ask God what they did to deserve Patrick Henry, they say it with tears of joy! If this story and video helped you at all today, please share it with your friends, family and business associates. Who knows who you might help in the process?
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Comments (25) - Post a Comment
Thanks Michael for sharing this story.
I am amazed everyday by the abilities within each of us that are granted by an amazing, merciful God.
Can you image how much more effective we will become as Christians, as family members, as business people when we learn to see the potential in all those around us that God sees? Just image becoming a leader in your organization that uses discernment from God to bring out the best in those who work for or with you.
Go, Patrick, go!
Again Thanks,
David Grace
David Grace at 7:11am EDT - June 9, 2008
I quit reading when you mentioned Joel Osteen.
Kern at 8:29am EDT - June 9, 2008
Wow...Thanks for sharing him, Michael.
Makes me ashamed to even think about whining about my daily challenges.
What a special family!
Lorisa at 8:38am EDT - June 9, 2008
Kern - that's too bad - you missed an amazing young man.
Lorisa at 8:39am EDT - June 9, 2008
Lorisa,
I believe that what Osteen is offering people is not a Christless Christianity, but a crossless Christianity. What Joel is teaching is not the gospel, but a faulty view of sanctification once you know the Lord. It is profoundly damaging.
I agree with Mark Driscol, that he believes Joel is our brother in the Lord (I do too); but what he is promising people who know Christ is a skewed errant view of victory in our daily walk.
Joel is equating a better life, job, home, relationship, pay, etc. as the evidence that God is blessing you. Nothing could be farther from the truth. We only need to read 2 Cor. 11 or 2 Cor. 6:1-12 to see the difference.
Kern
Kern at 8:46am EDT - June 9, 2008
Kern - I'm not about to get into the \"Joel Osteen\" debate. This story is about an incredible young man who should be an inspiration to anyone who will hear his story. Osteen was just the vessel through which Michael heard about Patrick. Get off your Joel soapbox and check it out! I promise you, you will be blessed!
Lorisa at 8:51am EDT - June 9, 2008
Kern; Suppose you had a neighbor you disagreed with on many points and had no respect for that person. Let's call him Joel. Then one day a neighbor you trust says, they got a call from Joel who works for the water authority and told him the dam upstream had burst and you had two minutes to get to high ground. Even though you don't like, respect or agree with Joel, wouldn't you consider putting value on that message and act accordingly?
Joel Osteen related a true story about a young man born blind. I found that story on youtube and put it there to inspire you and everyone else reading it. It would be a pity for you to ignore a story that Joel Osteen merely repeated because for some reason you find him unworthy to even the possibility he might have something of value to say - on occasion.
Michael Pink at 8:56am EDT - June 9, 2008
Michael,
I thought you said wrote that you were watching Joel Osteen on tv and you saw it. I misread it. Sorry. I agree that God cna even use a donkey to get his word out, no that Osteen is a donkey.
Kern at 9:11am EDT - June 9, 2008
[...] rather we see things the way we are. That should tell you a lot about Patrick and about yourself. Watch this video on the Selling Among Wolves blog Patrick's example is removing the scales of self-imposed limitations that are blinding countless [...]
Gameday story on blind man in Louisville marching band- a Must See - CycloneFanatic at 9:56am EDT - June 9, 2008
The most moving story and vedio I've ever seen. Thank you Patrick and thanks to your Dad. Would love to one day interview you both on my radio program. God bless you. You are a great witness for our Lord, for we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength and He is the one that has gifted Patrick, and gave him to a family who would love him and support him.
Carol Henry at 10:21am EDT - June 9, 2008
Kern,
Wow---such sad words for Joel. I am currently reading his latest book and find him filled with wonderful biblical insight---and has spoken to me on several issues...God is certainly speaking thru him.
Kristy Orison at 10:31am EDT - June 9, 2008
Kristy,
By the way, this is my last post on it. Just my concerns abut his book and his preaching. Like most prosperity teachers/pastors, he exalts man and not God.
I think his book is missing a few key elements.
1. Anything uniquely Christian
2. Anything about Christ
3. The Gospel
4. Actual biblical theology
5. Anything that will really help you become a better you
It does have these elements.
1. It exalts man rather than God
2. It places happiness in the hands of good living rather than a life surrendered to Christ
3. It makes happiness in life the soul responsibility of the individual
4. It continually confuses the concepts of joy and happiness
5. It places our success in our ability to believe in ourselves.
6. It lowers God to the level of a genie who sits in heaven waiting to fulfill our every desire.
It possibly could bring temporary encouragement at some level, but at what cost. There are all sorts of religions people take solace in that in the end will send them their doom. This book is no different. It is not Christianity. Its not even good religion. Over the years I have read all kinds of books that I would consider heresy. So far this is the worst of the lot.
C Ryle quote from \"Holiness\" is a good way to conclude.
“A religion without doctrine or dogma is a thing which many are fond of talking of in the present day. It sounds very fine at first. It looks very pretty at a distance. But the moment we sit down to examine and consider it, we shall find it a simple impossibility. We might as well talk of a body without bones and sinews. No man will ever be anything or do anything in religion, unless he believes something…No one ever fights earnestly against the world, the flesh and the devil, unless he has engraven on his heart certain great principles which he believes.”
Kern
Kern at 10:57am EDT - June 9, 2008
What a fantastic video to share Father's Day week! I have shared this with two leaders and thank you, Michael, for pointing it out.
Al at 10:58am EDT - June 9, 2008
Dear Michael, thank you so much for sharing this with us.
This family are truly an inspiration with a clear message from the Lord. He has created each one with a purpose through which He reveals His Glory!
I am so encouraged to see how they focus on the potential that God has endowed him with not only to bring joy but to teach us to focus with vision, passion and tenacity. Just as Hosea lived out the prophetic message of God's love for His unfaithful people, this family lives out the message that we must not look at our limitations and constraints but focus upon our call and fulfil it with excellence. Though he plays those instruments skilfully, it takes hours upon hours of practise, concentration and hard work to perform at such a level.
John Mason once wrote: \"God wants to lauch you past the middle to the top!\"
I take this story with me: Look at the potential that God has called us with and work diligently at it to revealt His Glory!
Blessings,
Wilhelmien
Wilhelmien at 1:53pm EDT - June 9, 2008
Awesome David! The interesting part is this man is not blind. He can see beyond the perceived limitations. How great it is to have that gift and see it applied. So many today, particularly in business have the disease of short sightedness. And the music... how awesome. Gifted with eyes and ears. I trust that is what Jesus referred to.
william d winship at 2:08pm EDT - June 9, 2008
As for Kern, Jesus taught us to multiply, not Divide.
And this do, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand. Let us therefore lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
When you Kern have a ministry that reaches the distance of Joel Olsteen I will be glad to listen to your rantings till then I challange you to do more than post your opinion with no personal relationship to the person.
william d winship at 2:18pm EDT - June 9, 2008
I would love to order a video of this young man to show to our congregation, is there anyway to get it? Teresa
Teresa Mills at 4:16pm EDT - June 9, 2008
This man's life is truely inspirational. It brought tears to my eyes and joy to my heart.
He made a comment, however, that stirred in my heart that I wasn't in agreement with. He said \"God made me without eyes and crippled\". I don't believe God create him like that, it was the cirumstances of this world that caused his disabilities. A good God, who is good all the time would not create him like that. \"Then why is he like that?\" you ask. I don't know, but I do know I serve a God whose very essence is goodness and love.
Maria at 4:39pm EDT - June 9, 2008
Here is another similar inspirational story of a young Australian born without arms & legs but one foot with no medical explanation for why this happened. He was born in 1982. His name is Nick Vujicic. His ministry is called Life Without Limbs. http://lifewithoutlimbs.org/ Although I am also Australian I hadn't heard of him until towards the end of last year when flicking channels saw him preaching on Schuller's Hour of Power. I later taped it on the replay & watched it. Both of these young men prove the old adage that the Lord uses our availability not our ability as well as the scripture that He uses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise.
Martin Allan at 7:29pm EDT - June 9, 2008
Here is a link to a recent story on Nick Vujicic that appeared on 20/20. http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=4531209&page=1
Martin Allan at 7:32pm EDT - June 9, 2008
ALL I CAN SAY IS WOW! WHAT A BLESSING MICHAEL AND HIS GIFTS ARE TO THE WORLD. THANK GOD FOR HIS DAD WHO ALSO IS A SPECIAL GIFT BECAUSE THERE ARE NOT MANY DADS WHO WOULD MAKE THE SACRIFICES HE MAKES TO INSPIRE , ENCOURAGE AND MOTIVATE HIS SON TO KEEP GOING . HIS ENTIRE FAMILY ARE SPECIAL PEOPLE. AND I LOVE IT. THEY HAVE INSPIRED ME TO PASS THIS VIDEO ON TO OTHERS WHO NEED TO KNOW THERE ARE NO DISABILITIES ONLY ABILITIES. I AM READY TO DISCOVER MY GIFTS BECAUSE OF THIS STORY. IT IS EXCITING, EXHILARATING , AND MOTIVATING. NO MORE EXCUSE. MICHAEL YOU ARE MY INSPIRATION, EVERYTIME I FEEL LIKE MAKING AND EXCUSE I WILL WATCH THIS VIDEO. THIS IS AN INSPIRATION TO ALL WHO SEE IT. ALSO HATS OFF TO MICHAEL'S DAD , HE IS THE GREATEST, WISH I HAD HAD A DAD LIKE HIM.
SHINARVIA LOVEBERRY at 7:36am EDT - June 10, 2008
Michael,
I think my message of how awesome I think this video was got lost as I responded to Kerns words towards Joel.
It seems to speak of exactly what Patricks message was all about---he focused on his abilites, the positive things in his life.
How often we may miss opportunities, messages from the Lord or numerous other positive other things He may be sending our way---because we have some skewed vision of the messenger!!!
Thank you for sharing this!!! It was an awesome lesson!!
Kristy Orison at 1:32pm EDT - June 10, 2008
Hi Kristy;
Great insight! Thanks for sharing!
Michael Pink at 1:46pm EDT - June 10, 2008
Michael
After watching this video today I needed to share with my son who is 20 years old and legally blind. Like Micahel, my wife and I saw some talent in our son earlier on in his life and we continued to motivate and guide him in what we thought was his God given talent.
Like Michael, our son is on scholarship at college for painting talents.
My son has been struggling with his limited sight for many years and has questioned why him? We have always felt that God placed him in our world to mold and guide him and like Michaels parents, we've tried to do the same.
After watching the video, my son called me to let me know he felt so motivated my Michael and found a renewed vision to his limited vision. He is now grasping the fact, that there are other individuals out there who are talents, happy, enjoying life, but have physical limitations.
Thank you for sending this email, it has helped my son with his limitations, not to mentioned my own doubts of self beleif!
Stephen at 3:32pm EDT - June 10, 2008
I go to Willow Creek and this young man performed and ministered there a couple of months ago. Wow, his joy and attitude! His dad and the way he move his work schedule around, and the way the rest of the family all works together.
We all need to replay this video in our heads when we think life is unfair or just feeling sorry for ourselves. This young man has something some of us will never have - Joy to be alive!
THIS is such a big reason why Jesus came here and died for us, so that we might have life more abundantly.
Kern, Jesus washed his disciples feet and told them to serve others. I don't know to many people in line signing up to be Christians so they can be dour and miserable like you seem to be. Quit taking yourself so seriously and enjoy the gift of life Jesus gave you. I mean honestly who wants to hang around with you if your always so negative and always nit-picking every Christian belief? I understand there are many things wrong in the world, but relax and enjoy the good things and good people that are on the planet. I worry about you - enjoy life!
Scott at 8:31pm EDT - June 10, 2008