“There is no obstacle in life too big to climb over, if we have a desire to be an overcomer.”

My name is Jim Ritter.  At the age of 16, I thought I had the world at my fingertips.  I was ambitious, athletic and extremely active.  Little did I know I was about to encounter an event that would change my life dramatically forever.  I suffered a logging accident which shattered my dreams for the future and left me paralyzed from the neck down. 

It was a hot summer day in the State of Washington.  I was working for my father’s logging company and decided to take a break.  I crawled inside the claw-like grapples that are used to move logs onto the eighteen-wheel trucks.  Not knowing my father was about to turn on the machine, I cradled my body in the grapples. Because of the obstructed view, my father was unable to see me and proceeded to close the grapples shut.  As the grapples closed, my body went limp and numb and I heard my father scream, “Oh my God!, I’ve crushed him.

After arriving at the hospital, the prognosis presented to my parents was that I did not have a chance of living more than a few days.  Despite the doctors words, I continued to survive by the Grace of God and the dedicated prayers of my family and friends.

During my stay in a rehabilitation center I discovered a hidden talent.  This talent was art.  I found that I could draw and paint holding the pen or brush in my mouth.  A hospital volunteer named Barbara Geddes taught me how to paint with my mouth.

Being a born-again christian for only a short time.  I struggled to emotionally accept my injury and to see a purpose to all my suffering.   Through my artwork God has proved me with an opportunity to touch the lives of many others who are discouraged and suffering, both spiritually and physically.

“God has shown me His glory even in my darkest hour.”