Benefits of Adversity
Author: Dr. P.C. Simon

When calamities come our way, we are resentful. We get annoyed even at petty things. If Jesus Christ had not been crucified, he would have died as an old prophet and would have been forgotten long ago.

Stephen Hawking, British theoretical physicist, would not have achieved such popular prominence for his work in the field of cosmology if it had not been for Amylotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, his affliction. In an autobiographical note on the internet Hawking wrote,: "Before my condition had been diagnosed, I had been very bored with life. There had not seemed to be anything worth doing. But shortly after I came out of the hospital...I suddenly realized that there were a lot of worthwhile things I could do. I found to my surprise that I was enjoying life in the present more than before...it shows that one need not lose hope."

There are two ways we can reduce the adverse influence of the catastrophes we face. One is to recognize them as challenges and opportunities to display our metal and the second is to build a conviction that we are always challenged to the maximum of our capacity but never beyond. That means that we will be able to overcome the situation. Success is assured provided we play our part. This is not only true with human beings, it is true with plants and animals. Those who have seen paddy transplantation, as I have done, will know that the seedling is uprooted, taken off the water bed, and left on dry soil for two or three days. If the plant has any sensitivity, and it has, it will feel a sense of threat to life when the roots start to dry. When it is replanted into the soil, it sends roots deep down into the soil with double vigour. The plant grows and yields sometimes eight to ten times as much rice as a plant that was not transplanted.

Newton never would have become the scientist he became had it not been for the bully seated next to him in the last row in grammar school. It was the custom in the school to be seated according to the students' standing in the class, the bright ones in the first row and the dull ones in the last row. This bully was slightly brighter than Newton and much stronger physically.

Unable to stand his persistent bullying, Newton, with a much smaller stature, but with greater courage and determination, accepted the physical challenge and one day banged the bully's head against the wall of the church. Having defeated him physically, Newton decided to beat him intellectually which he did. In a few days, Newton was at the top of the class.

Had it not been for his imprisonment, St. Paul would not have written the fourteen epistles. Had it not been for the imprisonment of John Bunyan, he would not have authored "Pilgrim's Progress". Had it not been for his fall from a horse we would not have had Tolstoy's "War and Peace". Had it not been for the early blindness that seized Helen Keller, she would not have been able to contribute so much to improve the plight of the blind. Had it not been for the early blindness of Louise Braille, Braille would never have been invented. The life stories of all successful men are studded with challenges and adversities. Therefore, what matters is to have confidence that every problem has a solution, accepting the situation and finding ways to overcome it.

My own encounters with adversity are not many but the few were critical. One was my miraculous escape from being killed in the conflict between the Tamils and Singhalese in Sri Lanka. Not only did I escape with my life but it resulted in my migrating to Canada which was one of the greatest blessings of my life. Another incident was when my house burned down. I could not understand the reason but after three years, when I had to replace it with a new house, I realized what a blessing it was that the house burned down. If it was not for the fire I would still be living in the old house which was built in 1903. Instead, I had to construct a new house and during the process it so happened that I found out I could construct a three story apartment with a beautiful view of the ocean, the thousands of sea birds, the sailing vessels, the Alaska cruisers and an income to meet all my needs.

Finally, the measure of our lives is not the amount of wealth we accumulate during our lifetime nor how long we live but how we live. When we contribute to the well-being of our fellow men we vicariously enjoy their joy and happiness. Seeing the joy of others because of our contribution is true joy. We do not live for ourselves., nor does any living thing, even the trees and the animals. Everything has been created for the benefit of other creations. The earlier we recognize this truth the better it is for then we can make a conscious and willing contribution.

Paul Ehrlich, the pioneer in immunology and chemotherapy, said "Waste not one hour because there is never time enough to accomplish the things demanded of you by humanity."

Gaston Berger said, "I shall miss of earthly life neither power, which is displaceable, nor pleasures which are frail. Only shall I miss my fellow beings. Two things are precious, the first is love and the second, far behind, is intelligence. Furthermore, love and intelligence are very close to him who understands." He lives indeed a blessed life.






--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dr. Simon, a philosopher, world traveller and philanthropist, is a retired research microbiologist with many scientific papers to his credit. He is the founder of the Chacko and Lize Simon Scholarship Fund which provides scholarships to poor but bright students in his native province of Kerala, India. His recently published book, The Missing Piece to Paradise, has received excellent reviews. More information can be found at his website: http://www.interchange.ubc.ca/psimon/book2.htm

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------