The true miracle is sometimes the souls – like Anne Sullivan – who God sends to me on my journey to help me to carry my Cross.
Born in 1880, Helen Keller died in 1968 after having worked as a writer, activist and lecturer.
While you might be mistaken for believing that there is nothing unusual about that information right now, it actually means something. Because when Helen Keller was nineteen months old, she lost her sight and hearing after an illness.
From this time until she turned seven, Helen communicated using home signs. And then when she turned seven, she met her teacher and lifelong companion, Anne Sullivan. Anne taught Helen how to read and write and eventually, Helen attended mainstream schools and university as the first deafblind person to earn a Bachelor Degree in the United States of America. Helen Keller was named one of the 100 most important people in the twentieth century in Tim Magazine.
And I have been reflecting – not on the story of Hellen Keller – as amazing as it is, but on the story of Anne Sullivan.
These days, in the Western world and in a beautiful country like Australia, we think nothing of providing opportunities to people who experience disability. We think nothing providing an education for people who have additional needs. We think nothing of supporting their learning and growth and quality of life. However, over one hundred years ago, when Helen Keller first experienced her disability, the world was a different place. Her life was not over when she was physically disabled, but it would have been a mercy if it were. From the moment of her disability in her world she was not only worthless to society – but she was a burden to it. The dignity of her human soul was in some way diminished by the world.
And – sadly – in the developing world, such an attitude prevails today…
And yet, I was thinking about that today. Because when Helen Keller developed special and additional needs, God provided Anne Sullivan to fulfil those needs…
And there is a sort of profound miracle in that…
When my little niece was very very sick and needing extra special care, one of the dear priests who prayed with us for her said that her illness was also God’s way of blessing the doctors and nurses who cared for her, because they could say to God that they had fulfilled the beatitudes and when I was sick you cared for Me…
And if it were not for Anne Sullivan then there would be no Helene Keller in the history books.
And I have been thinking about this today. Because though I often pray for the miracle to be the cure, the true miracle is sometimes not the cure at all. The true miracle is sometimes the souls – like Anne Sullivan – who God sends to me on my journey to help me to carry my Cross.
For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.