Grey, cold and windy

The harbor, in between raindrops

It's amazing to see how so many parts of the world are getting incredible amounts of rain, while others are in a serious drought. Last week in Spain, for instance, the country experienced extreme amounts of rain and flash floods, with hundreds killed or missing. And more is still to come, apparently. While all that rain fell there, places in Australia and others in the northeastern part of America are having unprecedented drought. Whether all of this strange weather might (or might not) be caused by climate change, it is very distressing for those caught up in it. There is no doubt that the entire world is affected by changing weather patterns. And nowhere is safe.

I feel rather fortunate to be dealing with just a few inches of rain and some wind, as we navigate through the fall and move into the winter months. All those leaves on last week's maple tree picture, today, show only a few still hanging on and many bare branches. In almost five weeks we will reach the longest night and shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere before the light returns. In the Christian calendar, Advent falls on December 1st, my birthday. This year, it's also the day before my next eye jab, which obviously I don't look forward to in any way. But I also won't miss it, since it's the only chance I have of keeping the central vision in my left eye.

I don't wish this awful eye disease (geographic atrophy) on anyone. Yesterday I walked with my friend Steve down the South Bay trail to Woods Coffee and back, and because it was so overcast and dark, my ability to see ahead was quite compromised. I am often reminded of the Biblical phrase "through a glass darkly." It means to have an imperfect or obscure vision of reality. It appears in 1 Corinthians 13:12, where the Apostle Paul writes, "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known."

As I continue to deal with this affliction, which will only get worse as I age, I think of Helen Keller, who suffered an infection as a toddler that took not only her sight, but also her ability to hear. She became almost feral in her early childhood, until her teacher, Anne Sullivan, was able to reach her through tapping the word "w-a-t-e-r" into her palm, and Helen finally got the message that allowed her to soar to heights that still astonish people today. In her long and productive life, she learned to read five languages, and she was the first deaf and blind person ever to graduate from college (Radcliffe) which she did by graduating cum laude with a BA degree in 1904. She didn't stop there: Helen met thirteen presidents during her lifetime, and wrote books that are still available today. She lived a long life and died at 87. If Helen could do all that, I think it's appropriate for me to start looking for ways for me to help others, rather than allow self-pity to dominate my life. Although she died in 1968, she still inspires others through her writing.

When I compare my life with hers, I realize that sight is not as important in becoming a good person as having a positive attitude about one's situation. I still remember from her memoir a time when she was reading a story (in Braille) and was so caught up in it that she had to stop and calm herself before continuing. I think it was "Tale of Two Cities" but I'm not sure. In any event, I am grateful for Helen's contribution to our world. She helped to establish the American Civil Liberties Union and was very active in politics. 

She changed her world in many ways, and it makes me wonder if I am being too passive in my own situation today. Although during the past election I supported the losing candidate, I learned so much about the ways America has changed, some for the better, since Helen was alive and active. For one thing, we have instant access to the news of the day, as well as plenty of misinformation that needs to be recognized for what it is. I wonder how she would have dealt with the issues that have emerged in our present-day world.

Helen Keller wrote 14 books and over 475 speeches and essays on topics such as faith, nature, racism, human rights, and overcoming adversity. She read avidly and wrote about many of the significant political, social, and cultural movements of the 20th century.

When I think of how much she accomplished, I realize that I shouldn't compare my life to hers, but instead concentrate on what I can still learn and share with others. If I take her life as an inspiration, I can see how just opening myself up to what I might achieve in the time I have left to me can enrich not only my own life, but others as well. I am eternally grateful for the ability to think clearly, feel deeply, and act accordingly. If I can inspire even one person to give themselves a much-needed pat on the back, it's worth trying, don't you think?

And now I sit here in the dark, thinking with affection about all of you, my dear virtual family, and what we can do to lift up our spirits, as well as those of our neighbors. Let's concentrate on all the good around us; it's there if we just look. Until we meet again next week, dear friends, I wish you all good things. Be well.