Every State of the Union address has them.  Stories of heroism, heartbreak, and humanitarianism, made more poignant by the presence of those people at the address.  On Tuesday night, there were many such accounts, but one really stood out to me.  It was the story of Ji Seong-ho, a man who had escaped the oppression of North Korea.  Without going into all the details of the story that you’ve probably already heard, he endured great starvation, suffering, and even torture in his young life, losing a leg and a hand in the process.  When he made his escape, he journeyed through China and Laos to Thailand before he was safe.  Oh, and his travel was done on homemade crutches made by his father.  Honestly, I feel as if I wrong him by summarizing his story in these few words.  His hardship and suffering, to me, are unimaginable.  And when he was recognized by the President on Tuesday night, he stood and, with tears running down his face, raised those battered crutches, reminding himself and showing the world where he had been, what he had been through, and where he is today.  But what about us?  No, none of us have been through the horrors that Ji Seong-ho has faced, but we’ve had our share of dark days.  And what have we done with those experiences we’ve had or are having now?  Do we sit and bemoan our lot in life, grow frustrated and depressed, or even get angry at God for what’s going on?  Or do we cry out to the Father for strength and trust Him for victory?  Do we stay true to our Christian walk no matter the deep waters through which we pass?  In other words, will we “raise our crutches” in bitter complaint or as a testimony of the victory God gives?  “Wow, just wow.”  That’s what went through my mind when Ji Seong-ho triumphantly raised those crutches on Tuesday night.  And with a tear in my eye and a lump in my throat I also thought, “Lord, help me to always be able to do that. To lift the emblems of my suffering as a testimony of Your grace and victory.”  What will you do with your “crutches”?