Cheering for the disabled competitors on The Amazing Race and American Idol!

I'm celebrating two t.v. shows that are giving disabled people a real shot at winning. And, I'm cheering those two individuals on, hoping they can out-perform their competition and show the world in a classy way that although they have a disability, they can still function, and even thrive, in life.

My favorite show is The Amazing Race, because I often feel like these racers when I'm travelling, having to improvise and problem-solve to get where I need to go. This season on the show, there is a couple, a mom and her deaf son, Margie and Luke, who are doing well so far. He expressed some frustration at not being able to communicate with other competitors because they don't know sign language. He is somewhat dependent on his mom to interpret for him, but he can read the clues and does well in the challenges. This past episode showed a team of girls trying to write notes to get to know him. I liked that, because I remember how people had to write for me when my lipreading wasn't working. I also like how Phil, the host, when he's standing at the Pit Stop, signs which place they've arrived at, making a special effort to meet Luke on his terms. Go Margie and Luke!

The other show is American Idol, where there is a contestant who sings and plays piano totally blind. He has to be guided onto the stage, but once he gets there, he's great! His name is Scott MacIntyre, and we'll see tonight if America moves him on to the next stage of the competition. Even Simon Cowell had big praise for his performance last night and felt that he has great potential and is relevant, despite his disability. Go Scott!

Sometimes, a disability can become a real ability when handled with a good attitude. People can see the struggle and appreciate the effort that goes in to overcoming life's obstacles. However, a few seasons ago on The Amazing Race, there was a team of cousins where one of them was a "little person". She fought hard to keep up and really tried to pull her weight even though at times you could see that her cousin had to do more than her share to make up for the things the little person just couldn't do. After a while, their attitude of fighting to show that little people are worthy became irritating and offensive; she really took a victim posture and lost my respect.

I think that a better way to earn the respect of people is to do your best and work hard and try to have an "attitude of gratitude" and grace to meet the challenges of life, realizing that everyone has their own set of challenges. It's been 11 months since I went deaf and my world changed, but there have been some really good changes and outcomes amidst the challenges and frustrations. I have made new friends in the cochlear implant world and learned much about hearing and deafness. I have a new compassion for the disabled because now I am one. My family and I have had to adjust and be adaptable and understanding with each other with the changes in our plans and how we now look at things like travelling and our future work in Africa. By the way, we plan on returning to our life and work in Mali in June, even though it will be interesting to see how being dependent on a high-tech gadget in a third-world country works. I need to start now with crafting my explanations in the languages in which we are learning to work over there...

Anyway, I am inspired by these competitors who are fighting to win, as I take my life's work to task and follow the Bible's instruction in 1 Corinthians 9:24, "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win". Of course, this isn't talking about The Amazing Race television show, but the amazing race of my life. Am I running it to win? I hope so.