I watched the season premiere of The Amazing Race Canada this week. I love the show, both because of the adventure of the Race itself and because the show highlights Canada. On this episode, we were introduced to the contestants; all of the teams consist of two people who have been in established relationships. The couple that I was completely taken with are Julie and Lowell Taylor.
When the audience is first introduced to this good looking, easy going, easy to like couple, we see them with their young family. Then we hear their story. In this case, the story that caught my attention is that Lowell, the husband and father, has a progressively worsening eye disease called Retinitis Pigmentosa. I am guessing that Retinitis Pigmentosa may be familial, and possibly hereditary, since his grandfather also had it. This disease eventually causes complete blindness. Currently, Lowell is legally blind, but is able to see what would be the equivalent of looking through a pin hole. Julie and he wanted to do the race so that Lowell can see as much of our beautiful country as he is able to while he still has some sight.
To watch them as they work together and embrace this adventure is inspiring to say the least. And of course, it got me thinking.
Most of us do not have Retinitis Pigmentosa. And yet often, we choose, to see our world through a very tiny pin hole. We see what we are looking for. We see what is easy to see. We see without taking too much deep thought. We sometimes see without even trying to turn our head.
This man, Lowell Taylor, does not have the luxury of seeing fully, and yet it seems to me that he and his wife Julie see life more clearly than most of us. What Lowell lacks in sight, he seems to make up for with insight. Lowell knows that he has a severe restriction and yet he is choosing to see more than many of us will see in our lifetime. He sees not only the scenery of Canada, but he also sees what I like to call ‘the Big picture’. He understands the importance of now. He comprehends the urgency to make the most of each day. He has somehow figured out what is important and what is not. He chooses to see possibility – even through a pin hole. He sees his life clearly and without self pity. He sees what he is able to contribute and he is grateful for what others contribute to him. Perhaps most striking of all, he and Julie, seem to fully grasp the importance of their relationship, and, at least to the viewers, they are models of championing each other.
I would imagine that most of us operate with something close to full sight. Perhaps we need some glasses to compensate fully for slight deficiencies. However, I am guessing that most of us choose to use only a fraction of our sight. My challenge for you this week is to view your life with a full lens. See not only what you can see through the pin hole. See not only what you have gotten used to seeing. See not only the limitations but the possibilities. See the choice you have in helping someone else to live to the fullest. See the people around you who are available to help you live a full life. See the power of your spirit when you look at life not only through your pin hole but through your full lens.
We have some pretty incredible Canadians among us. Celebrate one of them today. Happy Canada Day!
When the audience is first introduced to this good looking, easy going, easy to like couple, we see them with their young family. Then we hear their story. In this case, the story that caught my attention is that Lowell, the husband and father, has a progressively worsening eye disease called Retinitis Pigmentosa. I am guessing that Retinitis Pigmentosa may be familial, and possibly hereditary, since his grandfather also had it. This disease eventually causes complete blindness. Currently, Lowell is legally blind, but is able to see what would be the equivalent of looking through a pin hole. Julie and he wanted to do the race so that Lowell can see as much of our beautiful country as he is able to while he still has some sight.
To watch them as they work together and embrace this adventure is inspiring to say the least. And of course, it got me thinking.
Most of us do not have Retinitis Pigmentosa. And yet often, we choose, to see our world through a very tiny pin hole. We see what we are looking for. We see what is easy to see. We see without taking too much deep thought. We sometimes see without even trying to turn our head.
This man, Lowell Taylor, does not have the luxury of seeing fully, and yet it seems to me that he and his wife Julie see life more clearly than most of us. What Lowell lacks in sight, he seems to make up for with insight. Lowell knows that he has a severe restriction and yet he is choosing to see more than many of us will see in our lifetime. He sees not only the scenery of Canada, but he also sees what I like to call ‘the Big picture’. He understands the importance of now. He comprehends the urgency to make the most of each day. He has somehow figured out what is important and what is not. He chooses to see possibility – even through a pin hole. He sees his life clearly and without self pity. He sees what he is able to contribute and he is grateful for what others contribute to him. Perhaps most striking of all, he and Julie, seem to fully grasp the importance of their relationship, and, at least to the viewers, they are models of championing each other.
I would imagine that most of us operate with something close to full sight. Perhaps we need some glasses to compensate fully for slight deficiencies. However, I am guessing that most of us choose to use only a fraction of our sight. My challenge for you this week is to view your life with a full lens. See not only what you can see through the pin hole. See not only what you have gotten used to seeing. See not only the limitations but the possibilities. See the choice you have in helping someone else to live to the fullest. See the people around you who are available to help you live a full life. See the power of your spirit when you look at life not only through your pin hole but through your full lens.
We have some pretty incredible Canadians among us. Celebrate one of them today. Happy Canada Day!
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