Saturday, May 09, 2009

No Self Pity

I met someone the other day who was legally blind. I didn’t know it until well after an hour of sitting across from him at a church meal. I guess I could’ve picked up a few clues, but really I had no idea.

This person amazed me. The reason I didn’t know was because as he introduced himself to me and then when we would have a discussion, he would look right at me. It wasn’t until the minister was thanking someone for a donation of some blinds for the window that he jokingly laughed about it and told me.

I was so fascinated. He didn’t make his blindness be something that “paralyzed” him. In fact, as I talked to him, he said that sure he could make it be something he would want pity for, but why do that? He has a great family, a loving wife, and just lives so happily despite being blind. He’s been blind since he was 25. He’s not that old or anything, but that’s a long time to be blind for.

He admitted to being able to see my “shape” or as I would think a kindof aura. Meeting him made me feel more appreciative of the things that I do have, such as the ability to see, talk, walk, and hear. Honestly, meeting him was a blessing and a self realization of how one can choose not to let the “little” things in life get you down. The mere fact that he didn’t pity himself or want others to pity him made me truly respect him and the things in life that I take for granted.