Nick Vujicic brings hope and inspiration to the Chicago suburbs

This is an archive article from 10/13/15

Photo: Courtesy of World Leaders Forum

“You are beautiful, just the way you are. Everything is going to be Okay,” – if someone would have told me these words when I was ten, probably my life would have been different and I wouldn’t have to go through all the trouble that I went through. However, at that time Nick Vujicic wasn’t even born yet, thus nobody inspired me. Now, we are all blessed to have such a tremendous person as Nick Vujicic among us, because he is one of a few people in the world who knows how to help us overcome the darkest moments in our lives. Thank you, Nick, for your existence, ministry, support, inspiration, spirit, strength and just for being yourself. You changed my life.

It was a great honor for me to attend an event at Judson University on October 12, where Nick Vujicic gave a lecture called “Nothing But Change, Can Change”. Being part of the 2015 World Leaders Forum Inspirational Series, this lecture became one of the most memorable events held at this university. Nick Vujicic, a man who was born with no legs or arms, once again demonstrated his incredible will to live and to be happy in spite of his disabilities. He didn’t just demonstrate it; during one single lecture he actually taught how to be happy and be able to turn disadvantages into advantages. It will take some time to analyze everything that this great man said, and it will require a lot of spiritual and inner work, but with the help of his great messages everything is possible.

Once Nick entered the auditorium, he embraced the audience with his enormous energy and kept everyone’s attention until the end of his speech. He shared his life story and experience by bringing multiple examples and making his audience cry and laugh, smile and grieve, wonder and believe. This unique man was standing on a special table and had such an energetic voice and rich body language, that in a few minutes everyone forgot that he was missing his legs and arms. Everything – his voice, his words, his spirit, his energy, the way he moved and looked at people, - had something magic in it, and soon I understood that God was talking through this amazing person.

Nick Vujicic. Painting by: Natalia Dagenhart

Nick travels extensively and delivers his inspirational messages to people all over the globe. Once, the Liberian President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first woman to be elected to lead an African nation, invited him to speak. In that country, children born with disabilities were considered to be cursed, and people believed that they had to be killed. The president was very concerned about that horrible issue and asked Nick to give a speech in front of the Liberians. After his speech, which he gave to a huge crowd consisting of both Christians and Muslims, not even one child was killed. This is just one of many examples of how this great man changes the world.

During his lecture “Nothing But Change, Can Change” at Judson University Nick frequently quoted Bible and gave a lot of inspirational messages to the audience. “We all have disabilities, but God gives us hope,” said Nick. “Sometimes you don’t see the whole picture; you don’t know God’s plans,” he noticed. “Frequently, we focus on what we see and don’t focus on what we can’t see. However, what’s behind it is God’s plan… It’s about being the change. It only takes change to change the world. Don’t make excuses – change yourself first. The change you leave behind is the legacy,” said Nick.

Everyone in the audience inhaled every word that Nick was saying. Among others was a little girl to whom I was introduced that night. Caroline, 10, and her mom Anne live in Clarendon Hills, and it was their second time meeting Nick Vujicic. The first time they met Nick in Indiana in September, 2014. Caroline is an amazing little girl who has multiple special needs, including cleft lip/palate, heart condition, epilepsy, autism and ADHD. Recently she had her tenth surgery.

Nick Vujicic and his inspirational messages help this little brave girl overcome her difficulties. She has been watching his DVD’s for a couple of years already and has been inspired by him. “I feel that he touches my heart,” she said, “I feel more grateful to God and understand God more now. It warms up my heart when I hear messages from Nick. We should never give up and should try new things and overcome. It’s going to be Okay, just like Nick says.”

Now, after Caroline learned so much from Nick Vujicic and became inspired by him, she shares his messages with other people. After meeting Nick in Indiana, Caroline wrote a story about him and shared it with everyone in her class. Now other children who never before heard about Nick Vujicic know about him, are inspired by him, and share his messages with others. “You are beautiful just the way you are,” said little Caroline to me before I left, “Everything is going to be Okay.” And I, an adult woman, almost cried, realizing that God was talking to me first through Nick Vujicic, and then through this little strong girl.

I felt a better person when I was leaving Herrick Chapel at Judson University where Nick Vujicic was giving a speech that night. Nothing but change, can change. It’s going to be Okay. It’s going to be Okay. It’s going to be Okay. Just as Nick said.

Natalia Dagenhart