Help people see and achieve their dreams
Helen Keller is one of my heroes. Her faith, courage and unswerving determination to be a shining light in the ignorance that exists toward those with disabilities, is an inspiration to me in my own challenges.
I have a visual astigmatism in both eyes. In the year 2000 before leaving Canada to start a position as Assistant Professor of English as a second language at Kwandong University in the city of Kangnung, South Korea, I had surgery on both eyes. Without that surgery I would have become blind. My sight isn’t the best, but I see great opportunities to continue on in the spirit of Helen Keller, to be one of Christ’s lights in the spiritual darkness of people’s lives.
This is one of my favourite Helen Keller quotes that speaks to my journey of faith.
“I believe that God is in me as the sun is in the colour and fragrance of a flower – the Light in my darkness, the Voice in my silence.”
My Mom died of a massive heart attack three days before Christmas 1992. I have much to thank her for. Mom, thanks for having me placed in a specialized reading program, so I would learn that people like Helen Keller and Louis Braille moved beyond their physical challenges to do great things with their lives, that continue to have an impact on millions of people. They are examples for all of us to follow that our perceived disabilities can be of great advantage. Our challenges both visible and invisible give us a window of understanding into the suffering of others and their dreams.
A writer friend of mine wrote to me recently expressing I believe what the Holy Spirit put upon her heart to say. “Kevin, dream big.” So many people with physical and developmental challenges stop dreaming or make their dreams smaller than they should. They tuck their own dreams away, living a life much less than God ever wanted for them. I know this because I have seen so many of my friends with physical challenges not be given the opportunity to realize their dreams. Many who care for me say I need to live a life of altered expectations because of my challenges.
If I can help one person out there to see, to not give up hope for a brighter tomorrow, then the energy used to write this post will have been worthwhile. NEVER allow anyone to stomp all over your dreams. Strengthen your resolve to show them they are wrong in their perceptions. Yet, understand at the same time that when those who love you see you’re doing too much, listen to what they have to say.
Remember that the tortoise won the race and the hare lost. Enjoy your journey of learning and discovery of the full measure of who you are and will become. I took 13 years to get my Bachelor of Theology degree with honours from Canada Christian College & Graduate School. Little did I know that I was fighting the unknown enemy of pernicious anemia a.k.a. B12 deficiency and an another auto immune condition called mastocytosis. But I did it. For that accomplishment I give the glory, thanks, honour and praise to God. That Voice in my spirit said to keep on, to never give up. Now, I am in graduate training for my M.A. -Ph. D in Clinical Christian Counselling at St. James the Elder Theological Seminary.
Pace yourself in achieving your life goals. I write these words because I wrestle with my own impatience with myself. When I get ahead of myself and the Lord’s plan for my life God, Karen, my counsellors and a host of other family and friends are there to remind me with love that I am not the lazy, stupid, weak, good for nothing my schizo affective father and many others say I am. My journey as it is for all of us is one of forgiving those who have abused and abandoned us. Slow and steady wins the race as we fight the good fight of faith together and encourage others to do likewise.
I will let Helen have the last word.
“They took away what should have been my eyes (but I remembered Milton’s Paradise). They took away what should have been my ears, (Beethoven came and wiped away my tears) They took away what should have been my tongue, (but I had talked with God when I was young) He would not let them take away my soul, possessing that I still possess the whole.”
― Helen Keller, The Story of My Life
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Posted on March 25, 2014, in On Life's Purpose and tagged abuse, Assistant Professor, astigmatism, B12 deficiency, Beethoven, blind, Canada, Canada Christian College & Graduate School, Christian, christmas, clinical, compassion, counselling, counsellor, darkness, deaf, disabilities, ears, English, ESL, faith, father, fight, God, heart attack, Helen keller, hero, John Milton, Kangnung, light, Louis Braille, loving others, mindseat, Paradise Lost, people, Quotes, responsibility, schizo affective, see, social justice, soul, South Korea, St. James the Elder Theological Seminary, weak, welfare. Bookmark the permalink. 15 Comments.
Mind's Seat 
Reblogged this on SherayxWeblog.
Thanks again for all the reblogs!
I open you up to the river of God’s richest blessings.
Kevin
Thank u Kevin, u can’t get better than that, thank u same to u and urs, much luv.
Awesome lady, thanks for posting!
She sure was! I miss her so much every day. The pain of loss lessens in many instances with time, but we miss those who have been so dear to our hearts. My faith says when this earthly life is over I will meet her again in Heaven. What a day of rejoicing that will be meeting my Lord, mom, father, step-father and all those in the family of faith!
Keep shining your light and at times speaking those uncomfortable truths we all need to hear.
Kevin
Kevin I truly feel u, and one day u will be joined I believe. What a beautiful time to look forward too. But right now I believe they r present, watching carefully over u. And want u to enjoy ur life, we r all fighting for in our own way. That kind of love never dies. I thank u so much, we r all shining in our own way. But I truly thank u for ur very kind words, so comforting, Many blessings to u and urs, much luv and peace my friend.
Very true.
Thanks for following my posts. How did this one speak to you?
I open you up to the river of God’s richest blessings!
Kevin
Thanks. I just find her such an inspirational woman who did not let the difficulties of her life hold her back from achieving big things. Also it’s wonderful when people encourage you to follow your dreams instead of pointing out pitfalls etc. God bless you richly too.
Yes, Helen was quite a trail blazer for people with disabilities. Her enduring hope and realism about her journey with all its struggles and opportunities inspired many. Her shining optimism lights the flame of hope of many today.
I hate it when people point out the pitfalls in achieving one’s dreams. People are fully aware of the obstacles. They don’t need to have them shoved in front of their faces.People need to stop doing that. They need to give people that strong arm of support where needed as they face the challenges. Most people can achieve their goals with a little consistent encouragement and practical support where led.
I give a big shout out to my friends for all the times they’ve been there for Karen and I. God bless you for your enduring faithfulness!
I say thank you to you and all the readers who encourage me through your comments. I thank God for all of you.
Keep reaching for your dreams!
Kevin
Thanks. You too!
thank u kevin for following me….i wish you keep meeting your goals only so you can set yourself a bigger one…hope to keep reading more and more from you …keep writing and i’ll keep following 🙂
Thanks for the encouragement!!!
God bless you! I will continue to follow you.:)
Every one of us has “limitations.” Sad to say, those of us with something observable get singled out. I think one reason this happens is that we make good distractions.
My experience is, the outward disability really isn’t the determining factor. I have known people with severe disabilities who really fly; then there are people who appear to have none that just can’t seem to get off the ground.
In “The Dream Giver,” by Bruce Wilkinson, the point is made that God gives us our “Big Dream.” He wants us to be fulfilled and delighted; our dreams are part of His dreams for the world.
Go for the “goal!” That’s what I say!
Thank you for sharing these insightful comments. Yes, all of us have limitations in one form or another. There are those who have invisible disabilities, which are just as important to be recognized as the visible ones. I thank God for the disabled, who are given the opportunity to fly. What I think is wrong in our society though is that those with disabilities have to work doubly hard to succeed. We have to prove that we can do the job.
I have friends who are disabled who want to fly, but no door of opportunity is opened to them. The waste I see of the potential of the disabled is a societal issue that needs to be more adequately addressed than it is now.
In my own life I have had to fight for everything I have obtained in terms of my education and experience. I have encountered discrimination because of my physical disabilities. I have spent thousands of hours networking with people for opportunities.
More employers need to give people with disabilities whether visible or invisible opportunities to show what they are capable of. The resource of untapped potential not being given the opportunities they should be receiving must anger God’s heart.
We need to be a more just society extending a hand up to those who have disabilities and to everyone doing their best to be contributing members to our society through work and/or volunteering.
Some day I truly hope with all of my heart that the world Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King envisioned of equality for all will be a living and active reality.
God, give us all our Big Dream. Amen.
Kevin