Podcast 081: The Power of Hope (with Abdi Warsame)
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One of the biggest needs of the human spirit is to have hope in the midst of difficult situations, even situations that seem absolutely hopeless. Our guest today shares his story of surviving a horrifying situation and moving forward with hope and a positive spirit that will inspire you.
Abdi Warsame is a survivor of Somalia’s civil war. Despite being paralyzed from the waist down when he was twelve years old during a rocket attack in Mogadishu, Abdi overcame grave odds to survive his injuries in a place and time where he should have died within days.
Over the years, Abdi leapt hurdle after hurdle to become the successful American immigrant he is today. He immigrated to the US, and while overcoming the language barrier, he took advantage of every opportunity that came his way and ultimately graduated from N.C. State with a B.S. in Supply Chain Management. He has over thirteen years of expertise in the telecommunications sector. He is a passionate advocate for disability inclusion in the workplace.
In our conversation, Abdi shares his amazing story, which can find in more detail in his excellent book, Always Rolling Forward. We also talk about why no one should be defined by their disability.
Listener Q & A
Krel Buckelew asks, “Are there other Christians who lock themselves in a closet of guilt and believe that they should only use their art in a spiritual way? I began down this road many years ago producing art for a living for companies as well as painting inspirational pictures while presenting biblical messages. Now I have completely stopped doing landscape painting. For five years now, I have been a pastor and paint most often when I preach. The problem in my heart is that I do not feel as if I am pleasing to God if I use my talent to produce art simply for enjoyment or for decoration.”
Episode Highlights
- A quick history of Somalia.
- The harrowing story behind Abdi’s injury.
- Why we should refer to someone as a “person with a disability” rather than a “disabled” person.
- How positive thinking can change your life.
Key Takeaways
- The value of learning about other cultures and people.
- We need to stop using the terms “disabled” or “handicapped” and instead use “person with a disability.”
- Everybody has a story.
Resources Mentioned
