Vincent R Orlando

Yesterday, I had an amazing encounter.  I got out of my car on the way to the “White Cup Coffeehouse,” and  ArtGallery(301 E. 1^st St.,Sanford,FL,32771) when two young men approached me.  They asked me what was wrong.  I explained that I had polio as a child.  (I don’t think either one of them knew what polio was.)  They asked me if I believed in Jesus Christ and I said emphatically – Yes!  After a very short conversation, John asked if he could pray for me.  I never (ever) refuse a prayer.  John placed his palm on my forehead and prayed to Jesus to give me strength and fortify my belief in HIS healing powers.  John took his hand off my head and reached for my crutches.  I hesitated and asked him not to take my crutches.  John asked again if I believed in the love and healing powers of Jesus.  Again, I stated emphatically – Yes.  John was a little disappointed that I would not let him take my crutches and said: “the healing power of Jesus is as strong as my faith will allow it to be.”  I tried to explain to John the following…

“People see me – a man on crutches, and perceive me as ill or injured and need to be healed.  You see a broken body.  The reality is my spirit is whole.  You see me as something that needs to be fixed.  You see leg braces (to stand) and crutches (for balance and mobility) as an impediment instead of a tool.  You see a curse instead of a blessing.  John, you reach for my crutches and wanted to take them away and let me stand as a witness to GOD’s healing powers.  In reality, you are trying to take away a Blessing that GOD has given me.  Polio is a gift in that I am who I am – not in spite of my so-called handicap, but because it helped me find the hidden talents and strength that I have inside of my soul.”

With that, John and his companion shook my hand and left saying – GOD Bless You.

I declare myself two things.  First, I am as we all are – a child of GOD.  The second, I am a person with “Different Abilities.”  In the beginning, different abilities meant that I had to figure out alternate ways of accomplishing something that most people take for granted.  I had to find “different” ways to be “able” to do tasks (such as climbing stares or driving a car) that are normal to society.  I learned that if the goal is to get from point ‘A’ to point ‘B’ – how is not important.  Some people walk placing one foot in front of the other.  I jump or crawl (when not wearing my braces) to succeed in the same goal.

Now, I know that “Different Abilities” are blessings from GOD.  If we look around, we see and experience miracles every day.  The sun rising and setting, the birth of a newborn baby, the flight of a bird and the bumble bee are all miracles that we share or have in common.  These individual Blessing from GOD are the Gifts that lead us to our Soul Purpose in life.  We all have “Different Abilities” from each other.  That is what makes us unique.  That is what stands as apart from everyone else.  That is the way we can serve our fellow human being.  So, the next time you see a child strapped into a wheelchair; don’t see the person for what they can’t do.  See them for the Blessing that they are: perhaps a reminder to be grateful for what you before took for granted; maybe an opportunity to serve your fellow human; or possibly just a brother or sister that you have more in common than what you think.

What Blessing has GOD bestowed upon you?  How are you using that Gift?

“Be Pure, Stay Passionate, Live with Purpose – Be Blessed!”

When I was a child, I hated school.  And, there was a very good reason for it.  From the first to third grade, I was bused over an hour away from where I lived in Brooklyn to PS11 (PS means public school).  PS11 was the nearest school that had accommodations for “handicapped” students.  All that meant was they had a big enough space to put all of us in, a teacher (a.k.a. babysitter), and a lavatory equipped with handrails.  We were taught the basic 3-R’s in between dealing with temper tantrums, the screams for attention, or the breaks necessary to clean up a mess.  I was very fortunate that in the summer of 1967, I had an operation on both of my legs that kept me out of attending the fourth grade because both legs were in casts.  The following year, the New York school system experimented with mainstreaming and I was one of the first candidates to attend a “normal” school.  I was allowed to skip the 4^th grade and started at the appropriate level for my age.  Through high school I was an average “B” student.  When I went to Upsala College (in E. Orange, NJ) I maintained being average and concentrated more on living life on my own versus studying.  But, I graduated and started a career with AT&T.  After years of working in low-level management positions, I wanted a promotion so I went for a Master’s Degree at Webster University.  This is where I found my love for finance.  I went from an average student to a “B” student, with nothing but “A’s” in finance related courses.  As anyone would, I excelled at the things that I enjoyed.  Hence, formal education taught me a valuable life lesson.  People surpass their average abilities doing the things that they love.

As a business owner, it is extremely important to put employees in positions where they can shine versus setting them up to fail (producing a bad experience for all involved: customer; employee; business; etc.).  A more difficult situation existed as a start-up business, and I had to do everything myself because I could not afford a staff.  (Or, at least that is what I initially thought.)  So, the real question turns out to be: “How do I get the tasks that need to be done when I don’t enjoy doing them?” – “I Have To Do What?”  After much consideration, the answer is the same as what I have been trying to convey all along:  A change in the mindset.

I’ll use the example of my “To-Do” list.  I break my daily tasks down into groups consisting of three segments.  First is something “I Have to do.”  This is something in the day that I have to do similar to breathing to sustain life.  For instance, I have to pay this bill today or I am going to be charged a late fee.  The second is something “I Need to do” such as, I need to go grocery shopping.  But, if I don’t do this today, I can still survive by getting take-out.  The last thing is something that “I Want to do.”  I think of this as my reward for accomplishing the other two tasks in that group.  But, just because I “Have” or “Need” to do something doesn’t mean that I enjoy doing it.  Here’s my little secret.  With a little mind adjustment I now think that “I Get To…”

“I Get To…” has a sense of gratitude behind it.  I get to pay the cable bill because it gave me access to my favorite television show to entertain me and give me a break from my busy world.  It gave me access to the Internet so I can have an at-home business which sustains my lifestyle and allows me more time with my family.  I get to go grocery shopping because it allows me to nourish my body.  Grocery shopping is aligned with my spending plan, allowing me to go on my vacation.  “I Get To…” be the person that I want to be, living my life with enthusiasm and wonder as I did in my childhood, and allowing me to fulfill my soul purpose and share my God Given gifts.

Be Blessed!