"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)
If you were to visit Northwood’s Community Church in Peoria, IL on any Sunday morning, you might see Jim Eller playing the drums with the band. The scene is not unlike many churches these days, where a group of outstanding musicians are using their God-given talents to create an atmosphere of worship for those who have come. Throughout the building, people are raisin
g their voices and hearts to the Lord. Unbeknownst to most, there doesn’t appear to be anything out of the ordinary. But if you are visually adept, and maybe distracted, you might notice that Jim has something in his mouth. If you continue to look, you will find that his mouth moves, ever so slightly, to the beat of the drum.
g their voices and hearts to the Lord. Unbeknownst to most, there doesn’t appear to be anything out of the ordinary. But if you are visually adept, and maybe distracted, you might notice that Jim has something in his mouth. If you continue to look, you will find that his mouth moves, ever so slightly, to the beat of the drum.
‘What is it he is doing?’ you wonder. Now you’re completely unaware of what song they are playing or what anyone else is doing around you. You are in your own little world, trying to figure out what is in Jim’s mouth. Is he chewing gum to the rhythm? Or does he just like to move his mouth while he plays?
The music winds down, Jim finishes with a flourish and, at the end of the song he discreetly takes something out of his mouth as though it were a piece of gum. Then, you are completely surprised when he rolls off the stage in a wheelchair…..
In 2001, at the age of 27, Jim needed a change of pace. He loved working with his hands and decided he wanted to build houses. A local builder with a great reputation for building quality homes took a liking to him and gave him a job.
Jim worked with the builder for a total of two months when an accident occurred that completely changed the direction of his life.
Though he mercifully has no recollection, he was on scaffolding when he lost his footing and fell 27 feet to the ground. He landed on his hammer, crushing the vertebrae and severing the spinal cord at the small of his back. His lungs collapsed on impact and he was paralyzed instantly.
He was immediately rushed to the OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, a trauma hospital in Peoria, IL and was in the intensive care unit for 5 days. Once he left the ICU, he was placed on the rehabilitation floor, where he remained for over 3 weeks. Over a month after his accident, Jim was moved to Craig Hospital, a well regarded rehab facility in Denver, CO. This was to be his home for a month. It was there that it began to sink in that he would never walk again.
After the service, you are so intrigued by what you have seen that you walk up to Jim and introduce yourself. You are surprised by his hand shake; firm and strong. Then, boldly, you ask him the important question. “I am curious to know what you had in your mouth.”
Jim puts his hand in his pocket and pulls out an odd device. He begins to explain that it is a mouthpiece that he invented that gives him the ability to play the bass drum. In 2004, after his accident, he began thinking about how he could play the drums again. Without the use of his feet, however, he was unable to play the bass drum.
So, after numerous experiments on various ideas, he finally developed something that gave him the anticipated results.
This unique little piece of ingenuity is made with vinyl siding, 1/8 inch rubber and speaker wire and is kept together with super glue. When you clamp your teeth down, it starts it up. When you open your mouth, it turns it off. It is spring loaded so that it doesn’t conduct electricity. It’s the movement of his mouth that beats the drum. One mouthpiece can last an average of 2-3 months, depending on how much he plays.
Jim puts his hand in his pocket and pulls out an odd device. He begins to explain that it is a mouthpiece that he invented that gives him the ability to play the bass drum. In 2004, after his accident, he began thinking about how he could play the drums again. Without the use of his feet, however, he was unable to play the bass drum.
So, after numerous experiments on various ideas, he finally developed something that gave him the anticipated results.
This unique little piece of ingenuity is made with vinyl siding, 1/8 inch rubber and speaker wire and is kept together with super glue. When you clamp your teeth down, it starts it up. When you open your mouth, it turns it off. It is spring loaded so that it doesn’t conduct electricity. It’s the movement of his mouth that beats the drum. One mouthpiece can last an average of 2-3 months, depending on how much he plays.
His accident has resulted in numerous blessings. It has completely changed the path of his life and he is now doing things that he could never have imagined; and for this, Jim gives praise to the Lord.
For being ‘disabled’, Jim gives praise. For the knowledge that he will never walk again, Jim gives praise. For the indignity of being stared at, Jim gives praise. For the humility that is needed when people look down on him both visually and perceptively, Jim gives praise.
Because he is in a wheelchair, people often see him as being less than average. He is a ‘paraplegic’, which perceptively means that he is capable of doing less. When they hear about some of the things that he is able to do, however, they are astounded.
Being differently-abled has opened a wide array of options that he never would have imagined or thought of doing before his accident. He is an inventor; playing to the beat of a different drum; a ‘mouthpiece’ of praise so others can raise their hearts and hands to the Lord. He’s a 
master carpenter, creating masterpieces with his hands from designs that are etched in his brain. He’s an avid snow skier (which is difficult when you live in the flatlands of Central Illinois), barreling his way down the slopes, on one ski, as fast as he can.
master carpenter, creating masterpieces with his hands from designs that are etched in his brain. He’s an avid snow skier (which is difficult when you live in the flatlands of Central Illinois), barreling his way down the slopes, on one ski, as fast as he can.
He’s a writer, writing books in his spare time and selling them on the world-wide web. Jim loves life and those who know him are inspired by his passion. They observe his spiritual 'walk' as he rolls by. They watch his attitude. They watch his actions. He realizes that he has more of a spiritual impact on people now than he ever could have had before.
As you listen to Jim talk fervently about his invention, you are struck by his confidence; a confidence that is bourne out of physical pain and spiritual gain. You are touched by the depth of his character and realize that it is you who really are disabled; disabled by the irritations that paralyze you day by day; disabled by the frustrations that get in your way. Because Jim has praised the Lord for his circumstances and has taken his challenges head on, the Lord is blessing him with a life unimagined. It’s his praise that has raised the Lord to His rightful place in the life of one of his children. And His light shines bright for all to see.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4)
2009©Kent Robson
Soles of Faith #10
Soles of Faith #10
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