Three years ago I almost died in a plane crash that made me keenly aware that God had spared me because he had a greater purpose for my life. My plane crashed on take-off because a handful of bolts used in overhauling the engine were one-quarter of an inch too small. This incredibly small action led to the reality that the plane’s airworthiness was compromised, which meant that it was able to lift from the ground but lacked the power to actually fly.
I felt that in many ways this was a metaphor for my life. Although almost all my adulthood had been spent in public service, my lapses in judgment had diminished the perception of my efforts. As I accepted that small mistakes had big consequences, I realized that although God had lifted me, my choices had compromised our flight.
Through the pain of injuries and recovery, I focused on the knowledge that that God would send me opportunity for contrite service and redemption from my failures.
That’s when I met a remarkable man who had been blessed by God with a vision of accomplishing great things by small acts.
He was Manny Ohonme, whose life had been transformed by the gift of a pair of shoes that carried him from his homeland in Nigeria to a collegiate basketball scholarship in North Dakota, which in turn brought success in the corporate suite – and a growing realization that God had a bigger plan for him.
Manny’s vision is that he will find partners to give shoes to 10 million disadvantaged children in the certain belief that that God has goals for each of them, and every one of them will be graced with as great an opportunity as God provided him. These children will transform the world to the glory of God.
As lieutenant governor of South Carolina, I stood barefoot with Manny in our majestic Statehouse to announce that Samaritan’s Feet would give 46,000 disadvantaged children in my home state a gift of a pair of shoes and their hope for a better future.
Together, we have been blessed by energetic partners from the faith, education and non-profit communities as well as everyday people who have served as volunteers and donors, and their eyes too were opened by God to this vision of many small acts transforming into major achievements.
As I provide this witness, it is with humble acknowledgement that we have made but just a beginning in this ministry of service. Our successes are also humbling, as powerful men and women leaders kneel and wash the feet of small children as Jesus did his Disciples. A prayer flows from our hearts with the gift of shoes and socks, a prayer that this small child will be inspired with the certain belief that God has a plan for maximizing that child’s potential.
Each time, the words of the Gospel of Mark 10:14 spring into my mind: “Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God.”
All of us, those who wash the feet of these children , the little ones who until this day had largely been denied the fruits of the Blessing Tree, are swept up in this vision of greatness rising out of little acts of service and gratitude — and we sense that “for of such is the kingdom of God.”
