Next time you look in the mirror and bitch about your body? Think about this guy.
26 year old Nick Vujicic was born without arms or legs but he still lives an extraordinarily active life. After the jump, an amazing clip of Nick that is pretty inspiring. Especially for those of us – ahem – inclined to have the odd whinge about being to fat/thin/saggy/old/whatever. (warning: if you're not a fan of Jesus Christ, you might want to listen with the sound off because Nick is fairly keen on Jesus).
Well worth watching quickly….brilliant stuff……
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I have heard him speak live, and he is incredible. As a former Christian, his words have had great meaning to me in the religious sense but I believe that his personality and the way he is so cheerful is also inspiring to people of all beliefs.
Quite a Bible belt gathering in here…I completely get where Mia was coming from with her warning, not everyone is so ‘keen on Jesus’, especially on the Evangelical flavour of interpretation.
Had he been a Buddhist, Nick would have found it easier to explain things. Buddhism has much simpler explanation of the cause of suffering – karma effects of the past life. There is a flip side to suffering, they say, as it will fast-track the clearing of bad karma and hopefully one will reach enlightenment sooner…Perhaps this is what Nick is referring to, to ‘being made stronger for what Jesus has in store for you’! Either way, it did work for him and it is amazing what he has made of his life.
In a way, he never had to deal with the attachment to the transient physical beauty/youthful athleticism and for a spiritual person this would have been a huge advantage. He is lucky, in a way.
I keep reading everyone’s comments and keep forgetting to add my own…..
What I wanted to stress what that I intended absolutely no disrespect to Nick or to Jesus or anyone who believes in him or anything else. People’s personal faith and beliefs are sacred.
My comment about turning down the sound was, I suppose, made a bit too flippantly and in half-jest, more because if you are not super religious and very into Jesus, I didn’t want that to distract from Nick’s story.
But yes, I know that many of you will say that the Jesus aspect IS a big part of Nick’s story and ok, yes, you have a point there.
Anyway. Let’s all just hold hands and agree that Nick is amazing. Kumbaya…..
I’m a looonngg time reader of your blog, read Dolly when you were working there, so basically grew up reading your stuff.
Nick is my cousin, so I was really excited that you posted his story here, as he it totally amazing.
I myself am not one bit religious and have no problems listening to that, as nobody should. He talks to people who are religious, not once does he try to force you into believing something you don’t want to.
His beliefs have gotten him to where he is today, happy, helpful and proud – so he’s sharing it with those who might find the same thing useful.
Inspirational indeed.
Mia, thank you for the warning. It was sensitively done and catered to all members of the Mama Mia community.
I’m not at all religious in any way, shape or form. I’m not Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Jedi, Pagan or even agnostic. Whilst I don’t believe at all in religion, let alone Christianity, I fully respect the right of others to believe in what they choose. It would be nice if religious people respected the rights of non-believers to not believe in whatever they choose, and to not assume that Mia’s “warning” was an anti-Christian attack. I think most people got that, however, which is happy happy joy joy for a lovely Friday afternoon!
I second Jaz and Lozabelle…very awesome
And amazing story. I love In Christ Alone, one of my favourites 
I think you handled this perfectly Mia. So many people would have censored the religious content completely by refusing to put something like this on their blog, even though the content is so challenging. I am a Christian and I didn’t find the warning even slightly offensive. It was kind of nice that you said he was ‘fairly keen on Jesus’ – understatement of the year.
The best thing about Nick’s little speel is that he addresses that age old question of suffering. Because serious, earth-shattering suffering will come to all of us at some point in our lives. Nobody is immune from it. And how we respond to it has the potential to define us. We can choose to be bitter and twisted or to be thankful for the precious gift of life. Nick reminds us that every life is precious and has a purpose.
I am definately not what you would call a religious person. I have (a few) devout Christian friends and I even know a pastor or two. I’m not against religion but it’s definately not how I spend my sunday.
Mia and everyone else here who isn’t religious, have as much right not to accept the message of this video as Christians have the right to follow and preach it.
Non Christians could just as easily say that they were offended by the message of this video as it is not their belief. But apparently they’re not allowed to. I appreciate the warning Mia as I am not Christian and it would have made me uncomfortable.
Great video. Nick is certainly a very strong character and inspiring man. More power to him!
Truly inspirational Mia. Thank you so much for posting this.
I also gain inspiration from Bonnie St John — Rhodes scholar, Paralympian medallist, from an underprivileged background.
This is also well worth the watch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EtY5uq0UHQ
Thanks Mia. Next time I look in the mirror and wish my arse was three sizes smaller I’ll try to remember I’m lucky to have one!
I once read an article about body image and the journo said if you feel bad about your body because you think you are overweight, just try to imagine yourself as 50kgs heavier. Then look at yourself as as though you have just lost those 50kgs. You’ll feel a whole lot better!
What an amazing man … not a religious person myself but heh, whatever gets you through the night … it’s often only when we are confronted by people with major disabilities that puts our own minor grievances into perspective.
We have watched various videos of Nick in scripture at school and he never fails to amaze me. He is such a big inspiration
Through Jesus anything is possible
LOL nico!
I haven’t watched the clip yet, but there is one about him on the 60 minutes website that is amazing. It almost had me wshing I had no limbs so I could be that excited about life – then realised how much MORE positive I should be.
Great post to lift things up after all the debates going on here lately!
Wow. Amazing.
I will never complain about my post pregnancy body again. I hope!
Dear Mi and Co.
i think your comments on his religion were cynicial and nasty.
Isnt this accepting everyone for who they are, being tolerant of peoples beliefs and life choices?
“Turn the sound down because this guy wont shut up about Jesus” doesnt really compliment these ideas.
Like fiona said, this is a man with every reason to hate God, yet he’s life is spent instilling hope and faith in people with his posative attitude, CLEARLY what he has encountered can’t be totally falso.
Who are we to say “WEll it’s great how brave he is without limbs, but i wish he would shut up about his religion.”
We all have the freedon to listen to and believe what we want, doesnt that mean that we accept people for their own beliefs and MAYBE just tone down the cynicsm for someone with unbelievable resiliance, something that HE accuonts for his faith in God.
cheers
it’s probably because we all married and had kids young and are now sahm’s sitting in front of the computer trying to kill time before we can next take our kids to sunday school
So glad to see so many Christians lurking around Mamamia!
Everybody now…
‘God is dwelling in my Heart, God is dwelling in my Heart,
He and I are one, He and IIIIII are One…’
Nick you are a complete inspiration.
Thanks Mia.
Nick rock, what a great message, my son at this moment is wacthing the dvd ,the part when he speak to teenagers, reccomended.
Jazz, I admire you for your stand on Jesus, once felt in the heart,is very hard to ignore, he has a way lo leave quite imprint!
Hi Jaz, I’ve tried to visit your blog, but no luck, and I don’t do twitter. Please read this, and perhaps leave a comment if inspired to. My son is a youth pastor and was apparently on the big screen at Hillsong conference this week. http://societeamore.blogspot.com/2009/06/jesus-christ.html
Of course Mia wasn’t judging him for being religious. Her only judgmental statement in the whole post is that he is “inspiring”. I’m not religious, but didn’t think the dialogue would bother me, however 1/2 way through I did choose to mute it as I found all the JC talk a bit much. Naturally if I was a Christian, I would have embraced it, but I’m not, so I didn’t.
This guy definitely puts our ridiculous obsessions into perspective. My husband was badly burnt many years ago and we often catch up with other burn survivors (support groups, social occasions etc..). I remember meeting his friend who had quite significant facial burns, and she said “If only my fat bum was all I had to worry about”. She, like this guy Nick, did make me feel pretty pathetic that really, all I have to worry about is a fat bum and thighs.
Jessica – I should have read the comments first before commenting, maybe it was the photo of Nick, just dive right in. Nick is married with children? How good is that, I’m not in the least surprised. So with all respect to his wife and family, I wish to alter my comment to read, if he was not already married, etc. etc.
How awesome! Look at all the Jesus lover’s coming out of the woodworks at Mamamia..
Gah sorry for the double post, just to fix up an error. That was meant to be ‘may’ve thought he couldn’t do’
Jaz, you mentioned he’s one of the most in-demand Christian speakers out there. I would just like to say that my friend knows him and that the audio used is from a speech he gave at a Christian event.
To those saying Mia is judging him. No she is not. Having read an interview on AJN with her, frankly I’m not suprised that she’s not too interested in hearing about Jesus Christ, either am I, I’m Jewish. I don’t think you even have to listen with the audio on to understand and appreciate his message (I did listen to the audio). We can see in his actions, he is content with his life and is loved showing us that he can do lots of things some of us may’ve thought he couldn’t.
Mia, I have seen this man on two separate occasions on current affair shows. I love him, he is one of the most inspiring people in the world. I would ask him to marry me if I was young enough and good looking enough to have that kind of audacity, ask someone to marry me, that is. Love this man.
That is just what I needed to see.
Thanks Mia!
(In Christ Alone is one of my favourites…)
The song is called “In Christ Alone” and this version is a cover a band called Newsboys did. The first verse says:
“In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all—
Here in the love of Christ I stand.”
It somes up his situation perfectly. Thanks for posting it Mia… I didn’t take what you said as a judgement. xo
Do you think it might be BECAUSE of Jesus that his life has such purpose and he has felt such value??
Whatever your take on religion, it is undoubted that Jesus changed Nicks life forever. Wouldn’t you want to tell everyone if you found something that gave you life? Particularly if you thought it might help others…
Well said, Jaz. Amen sister
Oh yeah, that guy right there is amazing. I have heard him speak a few times, I alsofound out he is actually one of the most in-demand Christian speakers in the world.
Its actually interesting you put this on here Mia.
Why is this man so amazing? Why can he live such a fulfilling, purposeful life? And he would clearly tell you its because of Jesus Christ.
So yes, people can turn down the music or block their ears but then that would be defeating the reason of why he is an inspiration.
i went to a youth alive about 4-5 years ago even though i am not a very religious person.
Nick was a guest speaker and he was truly inspirational. Sharing with a crowd of thousands what it is like to be unable to hold his wife’s hand or hug his children. he teared up on stage and there was not a dry eye in the arena.
he is an amazing man.
Nick is awesome! I got to hear him speak in Melb a couple of years ago – super inspiring
Thanks Mia!
Kasia: judging? I don’t think Mia’s judging him at all, stating a fact and making a little joke maybe, but not judging him. She doesn’t pass any opinion on his beliefs, just lets people know..
On the real topic, I saw Nick on A Current Affair a while back and was amazed at him, a remarkable person. Really good for perspective.
Amazing video…I live with a chronic pain condition called RSD that make my life more difficult than many but yet it’s still easier than many too. I’m not religious, but I definitely believe in tackling a bad situation with a fabulous attitude…very inspirational
Kasia- I don’t think Mia ment to judge him. I think she was just letting people know incase they aren’t comfortable listening to that sort of thing. I don’t really have a religion and it didn’t bother me however I know some people may prefer not to listen. I think she was just letting people know and trying to focus our eyes to his amazing ability rather than his beliefs.
Reality check! What have we to complain about. Obviosly ‘religion’ is what most people think. Here is a guy who has every reason to hate God and not be a christian yet he has found truth through his faith in God. awesome. In relation to Tessgirl – no one is making you follow anything you don’t want to sweetie.
d miafreedman My standard to all my girlfriends when they say “I am fat” (when they usually aren’t) is that they should be happy they are not sick etc
This story backs up my views on body image. Just be happy.
Go Nick and Go the Big JC – love them both.
Saw Nick on 60 minutes a while back and his story was amazing. What a cool guy.
Yes, he reminds us of how lucky we all are, and yes, he is inspirational.
But faith in god is such a circular argument, isn’t it? If things are bad, it is god’s will (to strengthen us); if things are good, our prayers have been answered.
Still, if it helps this kid to cope with his extraordinary challenges, fantastic.
One of your best posts, Mia. Thanks.
Makes us all look like a pack of big whingers, doesn’t it?
The religious stuff doesn’t bother me. It’s obviously given him great strength and drive in life.
Mia,
So what if he talks about Jesus Christ a whole lot..should we really be judging him for that. You see I think by telling us we may want to turn the sound off you are judging him, and I just dont think you should be given his cirucmstances and the fact that his reference to JC dont hurt anyone else.
I was lent his dvd, I haven’t wacht jet, I’ll wacht it today and let you know, I am glad you talk about him it sems (from the interviews I saw in tv) that he is a extraordinary man,love ooxx
I saw a different man who had the same problem as Nick while I was in school. He came and spoke to all of us about his life and how he overcomes his obstacles. It truly was inspirational. Makes you stop and think how lucky we all are.
This is amazing- I love all the ways he does things, like brush his hair with that brush stuck in the shelf! But I do agree with you, Mia, his constant religious barrage is annoying (and the music make me want to vomit!).
In my opinion, anyone can be whatever religion they want, just don’t go on about it all day, every day, or make me follow it as well!
Awesome guy though, very brave.
Thanks Mia, that was truly inspirational and I did listen to it and almost got converted!!!! If being a Christian can give this guy purpose for his life and a justification for being born the way he is, religion can only be a good thing.
I didn’t mind listening to it at all.
As a mother I got a lump in my throat when he said his Mum said ‘Take Him Away’ at his birth. I could not imagine whether I would have the strength to embrace a child like him as his mother must have eventually as he appears to have been brought up with a lot of love.