Notes on Life and Learning Lessons Chapter 14

Physical Defects

Compared to

Defects in Character

Someone visited me once and inquired about a healer. “A common friend of ours told me that you know a certain Chinese healer who could cure many diseases that Western-trained doctors could not cure. Our friend said that the Chinese healer could cure scoliosis, asthma, high blood pressure, diabetes, and many other diseases. Our friend further said that the healer had a special friend for nine years at a Brotherhood in China led by Taoist Spiritual Masters. As you might have noticed, I limp a little when I walk. Could you give me his address and a little note of introduction?”

I quickly got a pen and paper. I wrote the address. As I handed it to her, I said, “I guess that limp of yours is bothering you a lot. I am sure my Chinese friend, the healer, can do something about it.”

She sighed and said, “I hope so. Actually it is not much of a physical problem. It does not hurt. It becomes a problem only when I have to run. I can not run as fast as the others. You see, the real problem is I will be teaching when the schoolyear opens. It is my first job. I fear that my students and co-teachers will secretly pity me or laugh at my deformity. How can I then effectively teach? My inferiority complex will worsen.”

I kept silent for a while and looked at her sad troubled eyes. I felt the deep insecurity inside her.

“There are many people out there, especially among the rich and the powerful, who have serious defects in their character. They lie, they cheat, they steal. There is much greed and selfishness in their hearts and minds. They lust for more power, wealth, and pleasures of the flesh. These men take advantage of the beautiful, innocent young daughters of poor people who are forced by their unjust circumstances to entertain them. These men abuse young helpless women like mad hungry dogs. They think and act in a superior manner.

Tell me, in the eyes of God, who is truly superior and who is truly inferior – the basically good and honest person with a physical defect or the very physically fit, healthy, and nicely-dressed person with basic flaws in his character? Yes, the truly superior person is one who thinks and does good, one who follows the will of God no matter what. You are basically a good, hard-working, and honest woman. You should be able to look at anybody straight in the eyes without fear or shame. There is actually no reason for you to feel inferior.”

“What others think of you is much less important than what you think of yourself. As long as your heart and mind is clean, do not let what others think or say about your physical defect bother you. If you simply strive hard to be a good teacher, to be kind and helpful to your students and co-teachers, they will eventually see more and more of the goodness that is inside you and see less and less of your outward physical defect,” I said.

She slightly nodded her head and thanked me. As she bade goodbye, she curiously asked me, “Excuse me sir, are you some sort of preacher or lay minister?”

I smiled and said, “I am also a teacher by profession, teacher of history. I am also a student, a student of life and so occasionally, I take down ‘notes on life’. Oh, by the way, you don’t need a letter of introduction to my Chinese friend, the healer. He will help you no matter who you are. His name is Aurelio. He charges nothing for his services. He is actually an architect and engineer by profession. He is quite a superior man. When you see him, please extend to him my warmest regards.”