MARCH 19 -A miracle of trust

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” - John 8:12

“The LORD [is] my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD [is] the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” -Psalms 27:1 -

Part of my past work was with deaf-blind clients, who ranged in age from young babies to the very frail elderly. I recall one special week that, along with colleagues from across the Nth of England, I accompanied a party of mixed age, housebound, deaf-blind people to a hotel in Scarborough. Communication levels varied, so touch and sign language were essential. Some individuals had not had a holiday, or used the spoken word for many years. It was demanding and exhausting as each of us provided 24 hour care, attention, and entertainment to our allotted friends. But it was the most rewarding experience of my life. Anne Sullivan related to these same feelings about her association with Helen Keller.

Helen Keller was just nine months old when she contracted a severe illness which left her totally deaf and blind. For nearly seven years Helen lived in a world of silence and darkness, with no emotional outlet for an otherwise intelligent child. The result was violent outbursts of temper. Then came Anne Sullivan, a specialist teacher, and a remarkable breakthrough began.

As the years passed, Helen developed into a woman of great culture and spiritual insight, Helen Keller is renowned throughout the world for her courage and perseverance – triumph over tragedy – as much for Anne Sullivan as for Helen.

We get a true insight into the character of Helen in a letter she wrote at the age of eleven, to Rev. Phillip Brooks – this is taken from her autobiography:

“My dear Mr Brooks. I send you my picture as promised, and I hope when you look at it this summer your thoughts will fly southward to your happy little friend. I used to wish I could see pictures with my hands as I do statues, but now I do not often think about it because my dear Father has filled my mind with beautiful pictures, even of things I cannot see.

If the light were not in your eyes, dear Mr Brooks, you could understand how happy your your little Helen was when her teacher explained to her that the best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched, but just felt in the heart. Every day I find out something that makes me glad.

Yesterday I thought for the first time what a beautiful thing motion was, and it seemed to me that everything was trying to get near to God, does it seem that way to you? It is Sunday morning, and while I sit here in the library writing this letter, you are teaching hundreds of people some of the grand and beautiful things about their heavenly Father. Are you not very, very happy? And when you are a bishop you will preach to more people and more and more will be made glad. Teacher sends her kind remembrances, and I send you with my picture my love. From your little friend.

What is less known is the fact that Anne Sullivan was also visually impaired as the result of contracting trachoma at the age of five years, and came from a background of destitution in a workhouse, before gaining an education at the Perkins Institute for the Blind. Her life story too is an inspiration.

The Lord was certainly the light that lit and guided the lives of these two extraordinary ladies. Their faith in Him was implicit, revealing a depth of peace and happiness those of us in the 'seeing' world rarely achieve. They also had in common an iron determination to use the abilities and talents they had been given, to improve the lives, and open doors, for millions of people with sight impairments. They are indeed, an example to us all of what God can, and will do if we ask.

“God Will Make a Way” - Selah, our music today. Click on the picture of Anne, and Helen as she discovered water, and the breakthrough began.