Leveraging Adversity

If you are not familiar with Helen Keller’s story, I would encourage you to read her biography. You’ll find that the real hero in her life was Anne Sullivan, a forerunner of special education and a remarkable woman who gave life to Helen and inspiration to millions in her generation. Anne was the one teacher who was able to get through to Helen’s intellect and introduce to this deaf and blind woman the powerful concepts of words and language. Helen became a household name when she graduated from college.But in Helen’s own words, the real hero was Anne Sullivan.Anne was born into a poor immigrant family, to a sick mother who died when she was young, and an alcoholic father who abandoned her and her disabled brother. Her brother also passed away shortly afterward.At just ten years old, without a family and any means of support or care, she became a ward of the state. A doctor found her mentally unsound and she was placed in a facility for the insane. Little Annie was overwhelmed with grief, rejection, and emotional distress. She would oscillate between bouts of violent aggression and complete detachment from people. In this facility, she was labeled a hopeless case and locked in a basement room with a caged door. Just a little girl, Annie was like the living dead.But an elderly nurse, who was nearing retirement, felt compassion for her and began to personally care for her. It started with her simply eating lunch outside Annie’s cage door, and leaving dessert outside the door for Annie to take. The process took months, but Annie began to respond to the kindness of this nurse, until she was deemed healthy enough to relocate to the main level and interact with other staff and patients. Over time, Annie’s role evolved from patient to caregiver, and when she was allowed to leave, she stayed to help others. From here, she enrolled in school and focused on studies to educate the severely disabled (viewed by most to be impossible).The story of Helen Keller is the story of Anne Sullivan, a young woman who endured the worst of adversity and found it possible to leverage her horrible experiences for the benefit of thousands, and the inspiration of millions.Dark times make our circumstances very difficult to decipher, and sometimes it’s best not to even try to understand the “why’s” of our difficulties. But God’s Word promises that good will come from our trials if we truly love Him and are living according to His purposes (Romans 8:28). Give that trial to the Lord. As tough as it may seem, it probably does not compare to the suffering of little Anne Sullivan – and look how God impacted the world through her experience! You can endure. And when it is all said and done, it will make sense.“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” – 1 Corinthians 10:13