This was the statement made to me after our close friend, Tommy Van Zandt, spoke at our Eight-to-Five last Friday morning. I won’t soon forget it.

Tommy Van Zandt is a Partner in Sage Partners, a highly respected commercial real estate company in northwest Arkansas. Following a devastating ice storm in 2009, Tommy fell from a ladder while cutting tree limbs and suffered a severe neck injury leaving him paralyzed from the shoulders down. Following the event, we received this email. It says it all…

To listen to Tommy’s story in its entirety,  click here.

I was one of the many 150+ business people at this meeting this morning. I was also one of the many that in the period of one hour, shed enough tears to fill a small bucket while hearing this amazing man talk about his life before the accident and, of course, after. I was also one of the many that heard testimonies from people of all of sorts of backgrounds stand in the audience to tell Tommy to his face just what an influence that he has been in their lives and will continue to be. I was one of the many that clapped, and stood before and after the meeting to a man of such influence over all of us. I was one of the many that this was my first time hearing Tommy story about his life, and it will not be my last.

Tommy had wits, humor, and a great sense of knowing how to pick others up that had come to see him and speak with him. Tommy’s mobility comes from a device that is attached to his wheel chair and he is able to get around for himself by directing the control with his lips. Again, an amazing man with talents to be admired and to give us hope. And that is what I saw in my own eyes, but also in everyone else’s eyes that I met after the meeting. It was also amazing that well over half of the group did not rush out to go,but they hung back and stood in line to get a few minutes to talk with Tommy. With each one that spoke with him, his eyes were just on you as you stood before him, and yet he seem to see the whole crowd. I thought of what Jesus had said to all of us by His word and by His spirit that see just one of us and yet see all of us at the same time.

Seeing Tommy has most definitely changed my life for being all that I can be for the Lord. I sat there in that time period and caught myself whispering “Lord take my arms, my legs and my body parts and give them to Tommy.” Many had the same voice too as it was confirmed by listening to all of us who heard this man’s life story.

Maybe today you are living with an accident of one kind or another that has taken all or part of your own mobiles away, and you are very limited in what you can do for a normal life style.  I pray in the name of Jesus that you too can see and hear these words and be inspired by the Holy Spirit not to see yourself as handicapped, but see yourself as Tommy sees himself in the Lord…more normal than anyone in the room where you are at in any giving time. Would Tommy or you like your whole body to be healed and made whole? Sure you and Tommy would. But in the same respect as he has done, don’t give up on yourself or the Lord. Allow whatever parts that you have to be an influence in your life, too. See yourself as Tommy sees himself …as a mighty servant to the Lord to do, and speak all about His goodness and faithfulness. God Bless each and every one of you!

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all that we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.   Ephesians 3:20