The late Dr. Stephen Hawking was arguably one of the smartest men who ever lived. Suffering from ALS syndrome or Lou Gehrig’s disease he was confined to a wheelchair and at the end of his life he even lost the ability to speak. But I recently saw an interview that he did in 1979. Dr. Hawking did not profess faith in God and did much in his life to disprove God’s existence. I am sorry that to my knowledge, he did not accept my Jesus because I have the utmost respect for how he handled his disability. In that early interview, he shared insight that can benefit those of us who are struggling today.
He said before he became ill, he had very little interest in life. He called it a “pointless existence” resulting from sheer boredom. Then he was told he had less than two years left to live, and his perspective immediately changed.
He said, “When one’s expectations are reduced to zero, one really appreciates everything one does have.” About his physical limitations he stated, “If you’re disabled, you should pour your energies into those areas where you are not handicapped. You should concentrate on what you can do well, and not mourn about what you cannot do. And it is very important not to give in to self-pity. If you’re disabled and you feel sorry for yourself, then no one is going to have much to do with you. A physically handicapped person certainly cannot afford to be psychologically handicapped as well.”
What a positive attitude from a man who had a lot to complain about. I reflect on his perspective when I am tempted to complain about my petty problems.