You Are Not Alone

 I once knew a man named Bob Keller and he was perhaps the most incredible person I’ve ever met. He was a very high powered individual, heading up his own non-profit organization and even served as the executive producer of his own cable television show. Bob wasn’t the most highly intelligent or the luckiest person in the world. In fact, he had more problems than most of us could ever dream of dealing with. Still, Bob was able to channel his energies into living and doing those things that he was capable of doing… and he did them well! He had a wonderful knack for getting people to help out with getting things done and to feel empowered by it. He was phenomenal when it came to organizing his vast network of friends and associates to join together for getting things accomplished that none of them could have done by themselves. He knew the value and importance of having a community to help share the load in times of difficulty. He really knew what it meant to trust in others when it was impossible for him to do things for himself.

 You see, Bob was paralyzed from the neck down in an automobile accident. This was certainly a life changing situation, but not a life STOPPING one. Rather than be consigned to a back seat in life, Bob created the Disabled Americans Rights Network (DARN) and went on to produce a series of programs for cable television, show-casing people who had risen above their disabilities to achieve more than anyone would have ever thought possible. Further, he was a powerful advocate for the rights of disabled people to have access to public accommodations and to be treated fairly in society.

How was he able to do all this? He knew the strength of community. He knew the strength of relationships with people who, individually, may have had little to offer, but collectively could work miracles. He knew how to trust in and rely on other people, even in the most difficult circumstances. Bob Keller taught me much about life. He taught me that when I am tempted to feel overwhelmed and overcome by my own petty troubles, they are as nothing compared to those others may face. I, like most of us, forget this lesson from time to time. Most of our lives are nowhere near as difficult as Bob’s, but we far too often forget that and close ourselves off from our community rather than taking strength in our community, religious or otherwise.

 Still, it’s hard to keep it all in perspective. This is MY life we’re talking about, right? Well, there is not one human being that can live out their life without facing adversity. Troubles have a way of finding us, despite our best laid plans. Sometimes they are self-inflicted; other times they come through someone else; still, most often, troubles simply come through the “luck of the draw.” Health issues, money problems, marital instability, difficulties with raising children, all of these may touch our lives at some point or other.

 We cannot choose our life challenges, but we can choose how to get through it. Will we become better or bitter? That choice is up to each of us. Will we reach out to those around us and become more involved in living, or will we retreat into sadness and depression? As we go through our life tests, we can emerge stronger and wiser. We may unearth a part of ourselves that until now remained concealed deep within us. We may discover our hidden potential. That is the miracle of life.

 When going through difficulties, instead of being miserable and sinking into despair, let us ask ourselves, “What can I learn from this? Am I truly as bad off as I think I am? What can I do to make things better, if not for myself, then for someone else?” Make use of your connections with other people. Let them into your life and take part in theirs. That is what community is all about, be it a church, a club or a family. Seek out others going through difficult times and see what you can do together that might help all of you. That’s what Bob Keller did. That’s what I can do. That’s what you can do.

 We here at All Souls are here for you in whatever situation life has dealt you. Find the strength only to be found in a spiritual community that asks only that you be who you are and do what you can. In that way, we all grow, despite our limitations.

 In closing, strive to be happy despite life’s tribulations. As Rev. Wayne Arnason wrote, “Take courage friends. The way is often hard, the path is never clear, and the stakes are very high. Take courage. For deep down, there is another truth: you are not alone.”