Christine Ha: what an inspiration!

Last week the final of Masterchef USA 2012 aired in NZ. It came down to a cook off between Christine Ha and Josh Marks. Personally I thing Becks should have been in the final with Christine, but I don't get to taste the food. Anyway, the final was close and Christine came out on top. 

Now what made the whole thing so stunning was that Christine is blind. She cooked with a helper but did her own work through and through. Her story is utterly amazing. She is Vietnamese. Her mum died when she was young. She has a bachelor of business administration. She has a masters of fine arts for creative fiction/non fiction. She has been a finalist in various writing competitions. She has a food blog. She is married with a lovely family. She has neuromyelitis optica where her own immune system attacks the optic nerves and spine. She has been blind since 2007. She can see as if "looking through a very foggy mirror." She won the show because of her amazing palate and creativity, not to mention her ability to get the job done, each time under extraordinary pressure.

Christine Ha shows us what it means to be truly human. She has now allowed her "weakness" to hold her back. In fact, it strengthens her as she demonstrates determination and her sense of smell and touch overcome the so called"disability". I am not sure if she is a Christian, but she shows us what it is about. "My strength is made perfect in weakness" wrote Paul. Yes indeed. She shows the kind of courage life requires in a broken world. She doesn't wallow in her affliction, playing the role of a victim, expecting society to support her, or wanting to be euthanised. She rings out every last drop of life and is achieving more than mostly of the "abled" people of the world. 

As one who doesn't face such an obstacle I am inspired to be the best I can be by her example. Congratulations Christine and thanks. I am forever a fan.