“The insolent ridicule me without mercy, but I don’t budge from your revelation.” (Ps 119:51, MSG)

I was so excited! I could finally see (See: I cannot see! Dragon Tramps or Kingdom Heirs, Part 3)! I was finally able to read anything my teacher wrote on the blackboard! I couldn’t be happier!

My prescription was quite high, however, as I am considered to be legally blind in one eye; and in those days, there were no high-index lenses (for those of you who must be thinking I used to roam about with the dinosaurs, this isn’t the case, believe me). With the thickness of the glass in front of my eyes, it looked like I was looking through the bottoms of coke bottles, and when anyone looked at me, they only saw a myriad of circles that centered around what appeared to be very tiny eyes. Many of my school mates were sure I looked like a monster.

Eventually this fact led to ridicule, as I inadvertently gave the kids in my class the perfect target for mockery. Nobody would stand beside me. If they did, they would be made fun of as well. My teachers turned a blind eye to this, and the mocking children continued their uncomplimentary actions unhindered. I felt completely alienated. I didn’t tell my parents about this, because I didn’t want them to feel bad; however, I shed many a tear when there was no one around.

Whenever adversity strikes, it always opens wide a door of opportunity, and this was no different. I began playing with younger kids. At least they didn’t reject me. In fact, they were amazed that a boy in grade 5 would spend time with them, and I quickly became their hero. Whenever they faced a problem, they would come to me for help. With these kids, I felt like royalty. Though I was disliked by my own classmates, I was completely accepted by the children in the younger grades. It’s here that the seeds of opportunities began to grow that would one day lead me to become an school teacher.

May we always remember that when adversity strikes, the doors of opportunities open wide. If we ignore this fact, we will always feel miserable. If we cannot fathom these doors of opportunities, we need to spent time searching for the beauty that our Heavenly Father provides us with. Our eyes will be opened wide, and we will find refuge from on high, a shelter where we will be safe: “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (Ps 91:1-2, NIV)

After all, coke bottles on your eyes aren’t that bad after all! At least I could see!

Rob Chaffart


(To access the entire “Dragon Tramps or Kingdom Heirs” devotional series, please click here.)