An elderly person, who was known to be very joyful and optimistic in life, was once asked by his nephew: "Uncle, what is the secret of your happiness? Don't you ever have disappointments?" The uncle answered the little lad: "When disappointments come to me, all that I do is to change the letter 'D' in disappointment to 'H;' thus, every disappointment becomes His-appointment, and I experience His Providence with me always!" Everyone faces moments of disappointment and darkness. Some of us get encompassed by it. Some of us get dejected by it. Are we ready to change the 'disappointments' in our life to 'his-appointments' - appointments with the Lord?

The blind beggar had to overcome many obstacles to obtain healing from the Lord - stigma of punishment due to his sins; hurdles of depression, hopelessness, discouragement and being put-down; hostility from the crowd. It is pitiable to see a beggar, lying pathetically, sitting in his filthy, dirty rags on the side of the road. The fact of his being blind made things even worse. Life was highly cruel to him and the darkness of hopelessness clouded him. However, he shows us the way to overcome hurdles with an eager longing, a resolute determination and commendable humility. Is my life blind, surrounded by the darkness of many hurdles? The Lord of Light is passing by. Let's have hope. Let's raise our voices. Let's lift up our hearts. Let's jump over the hurdles!