ARE YOU WHO I THINK YOU ARE?!

Photograph by Isabel Pérez Lago

“I know that Messiah…is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”

                                                                                  The Woman at the Well, John 4:25

(Article Borrowed from the In Good Hands Magazine Vol.12. Issue 7)
                           http://www.ingoodhandsletter.com/

Arthur Boorman was a paratrooper in the Gulf War. All the jumps took their toll on his back and knees. Unable to easily move from the pain, he gained weight, ballooning up the 297 pounds. He was no longer able to walk without the assistance of two crutches. Doctors told Arthur he would never walk unassisted again, and he believed them…for 15 long years. He was 47 years old and had given up hope.

He thought exercise was impossible. He wanted to try Yoga, but instructors wouldn’t give him a shot; that is, until he found an unlikely angel. As the story goes, one day Arthur stumbled across the website of former professional wrestler, Diamond Dallas Page (DDP). DDP’s Yoga seemed different and inspirational to Arthur. So, he sent DDP an email detailing his situation. DDP read his story and looked at his pictures. His immediate reaction was, “God, how am I gonna help that guy?” But, he was willing to try. Arthur said, “he didn’t know me…but he believed in me…when no one else did.”

Arthur began trying DDP’s yoga via DVDs in his living room. He fell. Over and over again…he fell. But every time, he kept getting back up. He kept trying because someone believed in him. He also started eating the way DDP advised him to. He started losing weight and gaining balance. He fell less and less.

Then, the most important thing took place... Arthur started to believe it could happen. He lost 100 pounds in 6 months. Then, he lost 40 more. He sent DDP videos documenting every step of his amazing transformation. But, there was one video that made even this big, bad ex-pro wrestler cry.

In the last video, DDP could see Arthur walking unassisted for the first time in 15 years. No wheelchair. No crutches. Then, all of a sudden... Arthur started running! He picked up speed and sprinted by the camera. The end of the video says, “They were wrong...it was possible. Never underestimate what you can accomplish when you believe in yourself. Almost anything is possible when you believe in yourself. Never give up. I lost 140 lbs. in 10 months. Thanks DDP for believing in me.”

Notice he thanked DDP for believing in him and not the Yoga? It's something to think about: