Jessica Cox was born without arms. Born in 1983 in Sierra Vista, Arizona, Jessica has learned to live her life with her feet. Jessica’s father has said he never shed a tear about her birth condition. He had full confidence in her potential. With the support of her parents and family, Jessica became confident in herself as an adult and continued to explore the world with her feet. At the age of 14, Jessica earned her first Black Belt in the International Taekwondo Federation. After graduating from high school, Jessica attended the University of Arizona where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. During college, Jessica found a club of the American Taekwondo Association and resumed training in the sport. Even though Jessica already had one black belt in a different style, she had to relearn all of the color belt material. The instructors created a curriculum that would be accessible to any future armless students. Jessica then became the first armless person to earn a black belt in the ATA. Jessica’s most famous accomplishment was learning how to fly. It took three states, four airplanes, two flight instructors and a discouraging year to find the right aircraft: a 1946 415C Ercoupe Airplane. She received the Guinness World Record for being the first person certified to fly an airplane with only their feet. (http://rightfooted.com/)
Jessica Cox shows to all of us that no matter how limited our circumstances in life, they cannot put limit to our chances to do great things for our life. The way one thinks has a greater impact on his/her life than a physical limitation.
In our Gospel (Luke 3:1-6), it is said that John the Baptist prepares the way of the Lord by preaching about repentance for the forgiveness of sins. This is the same message that we receive today from the Church as we celebrate the second Sunday of Advent with the Holy Sacrifice of the mass. We are called to turn our back from our sins and from our selfishness. This seems difficult if not impossible. How many times did we go to confession and promise not to sin again yet we always find ourselves falling into the same temptations? How many times did we say sorry to someone we hurt yet we continue to hurt them? How difficult it is to put an end to some vices like smoking excessively, drinking liquors which leads to drunkenness, gossiping, etc? We know we are backsliders! We think it is useless to repent and it is better to live in sin. Well, before we totally succumb to our sinfulness, we have to be aware that no matter how limited our circumstances in life, they should not put limit to our chances to do great things for our life. Isn’t it the way we think has a greater impact on our life? So instead of thinking about our limitations and how many times we fail in making our path straight for the Lord, we have to think more of the grace of God to sustain us in our effort to turn away from sins. It is only with God’s grace that we can abandon our sins and all we have to do is make ourselves ready to accept and receive such grace. We still examine our conscience and go to confession. We have to be honest enough making a perfect contrition. It is only then that we say with conviction; I have prepared my life for you Lord, please come and lead my life. Amen.
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