Last night I had the opportunity to attend a performance of “The Miracle Worker,” performed by young actors.  It is the story of Helen Keller’s journey of inner strength learned through her teacher Annie Sullivan.  The relationship between these two beautiful minds melds into a journey which gives Helen the ability to overcome deafness and blindness.  The acting was amazing.  The final scene left me in tears as it did many others in the audience.

The play brought to mind many things that are going on in my own life right now.  I’m nearing the age of 80.  I’ve been losing the ability to hear and often make mistakes when I respond to others because of it.  It’s a frustrating situation – at times very painful, because of the embarrassment it causes – most of the time quite humorous.  The cost of hearing aids has prevented me from getting them, along with the problems they can cause – like picking up a lot of unwanted noise, voices, static, etc.  So, I tend to rely on closed captioning and lip reading of a sort.  Maybe someone will come up with an Alexa that can transfer closed captions to people’s faces so I could see what they’re saying.  It could happen.

The beauty of Helen Keller’s story is that even though what started as a game of imitating, turned into a complete understanding within the mind of this very intelligent young lady.  We all hold that same inner strength, because that’s how God created us.  He gave each of us the mind, soul and heart to fight the outside world even when we lack the outer tools.  Whether we are physically disabled or not, we can overcome obstacles that seem insurmountable.

The mind is a wonderful gift from God.  Some folks are gifted with compassion – some with physical strength, artistic abilities or scientific and analytical reasoning.  Each mind is unique and individually designed for each of God’s creations.  That’s what makes each one of us a unique part of the world around us.

My hearing may go away completely someday.  I’m still holding out for an electronic device that clearly shows me what people are saying, but it probably won’t happen in my lifetime. I do know that I am a child of God and when I leave this world, I will possess a perfect body – the one that God intended for me in the first place.  There will be no more tears, no sadness, no death or pain.  Everything will be made new again.

PSALM 91:9-13  “Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—the Most High, who is my refuge, no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent.  For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.  On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.