"They Were Born That Way?" So What?

Using the excuse, "I was born that way," is a non-scalable alibi.

My sons are all computer developers, they write code for different companies for the Internet. A common complaint of novice developers is when they write code that won't scale. Their code works when they try it on the test servers using 1000 hits or users, but when they launch it into cyberspace, the application crashes. They review the code, test it again, roll it out, and it bursts into flames as it crashes to the floor.

The problem usually lies in having the server execute individual operations rather than batching operations together. The server has no problems performing several thousand operations a second, so on the test server everything looks good. But when mounted in the real world on a popular site, it can be hit with hundreds of thousands or even millions of operations a second. When the server becomes so over-whelmed with unfinished tasks, it can't continue and it shuts down.

"I was born that way" is a good reason to continue to act the way we always have; it is positive procrastination justified. It really doesn't make any difference what the behavior is, it is not a justifiable reason to remain the way we are.

There is a reason for every person's condition, but there is no excuse for them to remain that way.

Let's just see if this scales to the real world?

• Alcoholics are born that way and shouldn't change.
• Kleptomaniacs are born that way and can't change.
• Homosexuals are born that way and shouldn't be expected to change.
• Pedophiles are born that way and can't be expected to change.
• Maniacal tyrant murders like Adolf Hitler, Saddam Hussian, Joseph Stalin, Pol Pot were born that way and we shouldn't expect them to treat us otherwise.
• Greedy, self-serving capitalists like the Koch brothers or George Soros were born that way have every right to manipulate governments to their advantage.

Humm . . . doesn't look like it fits all cases. Maybe if one-size fits all, it doesn't fit anyone?

Maybe, just maybe, we can become something different that the way we were born? Or maybe we can take what we are and become someone so much better.

What about Jennifer Bricker? Born with no legs, she was inspired by gymnast Dominique Moceanu and became a world-class tumbler. Watch her interview as she explains why being "born this way" never prevented her from being the best she could.

Gabe Adams, an 8 year-old boy, also born with no arms or legs, coined his own motto, "I can do anything with a smile". 

And finally, Nick Vujicic, no arms or legs either, is a motivational speaker, traveling around the world sharing hope and the dream that we can change ourselves to become what God wants us to be. He has even married the girl of his dreams and continues to strive to be a better person each day.

The thing they all have in common is supportive friends and family who never placed limits on them, never accepted that because they had disabilities, they couldn't do the things they wanted, and never gave up on them. This kind of support will enable anyone to overcome any short-comings or weaknesses they were "born with". Obesity, anorexia, anger management, un-natural attractions, low self-esteem, alcoholism, drug dependency, you name it, you can change it or manage it.

Most of these issues never leave us, just as Jennifer, Gabe and Nick will never be able to grow new arms and legs. But, our fears and limitations can be controlled, not coddled. We can let the elephant play quietly in the corner while we immerse ourselves in greater things.

Did these three become what they did because of their birth or in spite of it?  We will never know, but this much we do know, they learned to "do anything with a smile".

There is a reason for every person's condition, but there is no excuse for them to remain that way.