Art Berg’s story is remarkable. He rolled his Volkswagen on his way to Utah to marry his fiance, Dallas. The accident left him a quadriplegic. He faced terrible depression, questioning himself on how he could be fit to marry his sweetheart. Dallas knew what she wanted, and waited one full year for Art to rehab physically, mentally and emoti
onally. I watched this couple as they built a happy life and family together.
Among Art’s many accomplishments is being a world-class wheelchair athlete where he set a world record in the marathon. A short time later someone else broke his record, so Art went back to training. With tremendous courage and overcoming huge odds he once again set another world record.
At one point I asked him if he could go back to that eventful day when the wind caused his Beetle to roll and change the outcome. Art said,
“I have been so blessed to have this tragedy. I have learned so much! My life truly has been enriched by being forced to fight for everything. I wouldn’t have it any other way!”
Art passed away a few years ago at the age of 39. He taught me that trials come to each one of us. We all have experienced situations that have been challenging, but what have we learned from them? Are we like Art or are we like the discontented who begin in grade school to wish for junior high, then in high school wishing to be on our way to college, and then when working wishing for something else until we have wished our lives away rather than making the most of what we have right now?
Since we are in a new year, it’s a good time to resolve to do things better, a grand time to stop and count how many things we take for granted, to consider our strengths rather than our weaknesses, and to be grateful for all that we have so we can make the most of those things and have the strength to create even more.
