A Story of Strength and Courage. Last week I read an excellent commentary by Joseph Goodman. He related the story of Ben Abercrombie. It is a story worth sharing. The following is my paraphrased version of the story.
Eight years ago, Ben Abercrombie suffered a catastrophic injury to a pair of vertebrae in his neck. He was making a routine tackle in his first football game for Harvard University. He could have died on the field.
A native of Hoover, Alabama, Abercrombie had just begun his freshman year. In a blink, it was all over. Or so everyone thought. But Ben wasn’t about to quit anything without a fight. If there was even the slightest possibility that Ben could finish school, then he was going to do it.
Earlier last week, and eight years after his injury, Ben completed his final exam as a student at Harvard. He graduates later this month. He will soon be one of the most impressive and inspirational alums of the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States.
Paralysis couldn’t stop him. The COVID-19 pandemic failed to deter him.
A lot of people don’t understand what it takes for Ben to simply compose a sentence or send an email. He uses assistive technology adapted to his eyesight to write.
His final exam at Harvard took him six hours. All of his tests took hours and hours. But he never quits.
“Fight like a Badger,” is what they say at Harvard in honor of Ben. It’s now a part of the football team’s many traditions. Ben doesn’t fight for himself, though. That’s the truth of it. That’s what sets him apart and makes him special. Ben fights for everyone else.
He fights for his family.
He fights for his friends.
He fights for Harvard and he fights for the country.
Ben is graduating with a degree in finance. His plan is to be a financial adviser for athletes. All Ben does, and all he wants to do, is make people better every day of his life. It’s a gift.
Ben’s parents take care of him around the clock. It’s more than a full-time job. Harvard alums have raised money for the family. Each year, the former players throw a fundraiser for Ben before the Harvard-Yale game. It takes a remarkable amount of teamwork for someone paralyzed from the neck down to graduate from Harvard.
So many kind and loving people have helped Ben since his injury, but the people around Ben — his parents, his former coaches, his friends — all say the same thing. They’re the lucky ones for getting to be around him.
Ben’s positivity is infectious. His light is a beacon. Share his joy. Celebrate his story. Be renewed by his endurance and his love for life.
For the column, Joseph asked Ben one question upon completion of his final exam. What’s the most important thing he learned while attending the most prestigious university in the world? Here’s what he said:
“The most important thing I learned during my time at Harvard was not related to academics or finance, but rather how much the people within the Harvard community care for each other.
“Regardless of whether someone graduated in 1953 or 2025, members of the Harvard community treat one another like family regardless of the situation or condition you’re in. They go out of their way to help one another, and despite being told about this early after my injury, I was still surprised by how strong and genuine this sense of family within the Harvard community really is.”
How do you make the people around you better? There is no greater gift.
Help others to help themselves. Love for the sake of love. Learn from those you teach.
Fight like Ben Abercrombie.
What an inspirational story!
We need more people like Ben and more caring communities.
https://reader.mobilepressregister.com/0517-goodman/content.html
This and That
Welcome Back. I was delighted to watch Caitlin Clark play again. In her first game of the new season, she posted a triple double – 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. After only one year and one game she is already tied for third place in the WNBA all-time list for triple-doubles.
Immigration Issues Have Complexities. Recently John Fetterman has gotten a lot of bad press. In my opinion his recent interaction with Kristi Noem is worth watching. I like his balanced approach to key immigration issues.
Good News
Heroic First Responder
With Fire Raging, Missouri Officer Rushes In to Save A Life
Young Man used a Drone To Drop a Flotation Device and Save a Life
Hero Fisherman Uses Drone To Rescue Teen From Rip Current
Heart-warming Story
Window Washers Dressed As Superheroes Surprise Patients At Mississippi Hospital
I am not as young as I used to be. Our pastor was told their granddaughter had been put in hospice care. She is 17 and losing her battle with cancer. Our pastor and her husband had planned a visit in June but quickly changed plans. They needed to go this week.
To help them, I agreed to preach next Sunday. I usually have more preparation time. I am also teaching about Mr. Rogers on Wednesday evenings. As a consequence of the added workload (and my age), my blog this week is a little shorter than usual. I hope all of you join me in prayer and support of our pastor and her family.
Peace
Jerry
0 Comments