This was the first book I decided to pick up & start reading after ambitiously hoarding myself with books at the 2nd hand bookshop last month. (I'm into my 4th book now) To me, this was a serious read, requiring me to re-read a paragraph again before I truly understand what she was trying to convey, as she tends to use very deep & descriptive words to go deeper into an experience or emotion.
First of all, I'm amazed & impressed by this courageous blind & deaf lady, Helen Keller.
She lost her sight & hearing at 18 months and struggled through her early childhood days. Until she met her teacher Anne Sullivan, who in my opinion is as much a hero as the author herself.
What struck me the most while reading this book was, how Helen Keller mentioned the stuff she enjoys doing; "watching" plays, visiting art museums, "listening" to music, swimming, climbing trees, canoeing, tandem-cycling.... & many more things that we the "non-handicapped" may never attempt doing in our entire lives!
She always uses the word "sees", "hears" a lot, & it confuses me as a reader at times, wondering if she's truly blind & deaf?
She's a voracious reader & learnt (and excelled in) English, Latin, French, German (perhaps more, I cant quite remember which other languages).
Another thing I've learnt from her is the strong resolution to refuse to wallow in self-pity, nor allow the seed of bitterness or resentment to take root in her heart. That when she felt rejected, or sympathized (which she loathes), a sharp retort is always on the tip of her tongue. But, she was enabled, to swallow them (just like "un-fallen" tears ) instead of relishing the letting go of what her mind thinks at that point in time, which may lead to further eroding of her spirit & hurting the people around her.
It's truly amazing how much she has accomplished in her "limitation". And, towards the end of the biography, she mentioned that she's not sure if the "seeing" truly can see better than the blind, nor "hear" better than the deaf.
Which is true, as I feel that often times, we're bound not by the physical handicaps, but by fear based on what we see. This is as real a handicap as any other.
It's only when we knew that we are so limited, that we can truly entrust fully on the One greater than ourselves, to accomplish what's been planted in our hearts by Him.
Only then, do we allow "His strength to be perfected in our weakness" (2 Cor 12:9).
No comments:
Post a Comment