Blindsided by Grace: Entering the World of Disability

By Robert F. Molsberry

Book Overview

An active pastor, husband, father, and triathlete, Robert F. Molsberry was left paraplegic following a near fatal hit and run accident in 1997. After a long period of recovery and rehabilitation, he has returned to an active life including family, ministry, and athletics. The book reflects on his experience of disability not as a medical condition in search of a cure, nor as a tragedy to be pitied, but as a cross-cultural adventure similar to learning to live in a foreign country. Molsberry also offers biblical and theological reflection that confronts the Bible's ancient worldview regarding disability rather than deserved punishment or opportunity for miraculous cure, he explores biblical texts that see disability as an occasion for radical hospitality and inclusion.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0806645725
• ISBN13: 9780806645728
• Release Date: February 2004
• Publisher: Augsburg Fortress Publishing
• Length: 174 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.6" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Take to Heart the Message!

In the preverbal "blink of an eye," our lives can change. What will we do? How will we handle the situation and life itself? Robert Molsberry is the senior pastor of the United Church of Christ-Congregational in Grinnell, Iowa. In Blindsided by Grace he tells his story of learning to live with a life altering physical challenge: paraplegia. In 1997, Molsberry almost died following a hit and run accident where he was permanently left without the use of his legs. Molsberry, a pastor, husband, father and athlete had been bicycling on May 31 when he was hit by a truck from behind. Witnesses described the driver swerving as though hitting Molsberry was intentional. Molsberry confronts and explores his disability from his perspective as the disabled person and as someone who responds to the people and situations he encounters around him. And he does this with insight and humor. Blindsided by Grace is one man's thoughtful journey who's determined to live the life God gave him with as much grace as he can muster. His honesty is compelling. I found the poignancy overwhelming of his admission of what he would give up to be able to make love to his wife one more time. I laughed when he described a picture of him in the hospital. He was wearing a Groucho Marx glasses and nose and declared his family must have been bored. As the mother of a child who has lived with blindness, I greatly appreciated Molsberry's account of his life before and following his accident. I so wish, as someone who has 'old eyes', that the print had been larger. It was difficult to read, even with glasses. Armchair Interviews says: We would all do well to read Blindsided by Grace and take to heart the message.