With the news of Los Vegas – I am reminded of the difficulty that we all must face at times. My heart goes out to the victims. I am sorry that we do not have the gun control laws that could help prevent the needless criminal acts. It all becomes difficult to carry. I do not try to lessen the trauma or the loss of life from Los Vegas. From my point of view in Washington DC far away from the devastation, I try to look at difficulties as an opportunity. I remind myself that only good can come from difficulties. Even if I don’t realize that until the dust settles.

Difficulty

“The beetle deposits its eggs in a ball of dung. From that it has to eat its way out, and then it spreads its wings and flies away. We are born to a world of difficulty, and we have to feed on it so that we will spread our spiritual wings and fly away.” - Wesley Snipes

The man called Blade (Eric Brooks) was born in a Brooklyn whorehouse. Blade’s mother, a prostitute at Madame Vanity’s brothel, experienced a difficult labor, and “Doctor” Deacon Frost was called. Deacon Frost was a bloodthirsty vampire. Frost feasted on Blade’s mother and passed along the “Vampire Virus” to the infant. This gave Blade the same powers as a vampire but none of the weaknesses of the vampires. As Blade grew into manhood he met Jamal Afari and was trained in the difficult ways of Vampire Hunting. Blade finds redemption, peace, and freedom in the difficulties he faces in protecting humans from demons.

We all have difficulties; life is very seldom “easy”. But it is our attitude toward the difficulties that makes us heroic. Look at difficulties as a learning experience. Face difficulties with determination and courage. Realize that at the end of the difficult situation there is only goodness. H.W. Beecher wrote, “Troubles are often the tools by which God fashions us for better things.” these are good words to remember. We must face our difficulties, we should go through them, and the only difficulty that impedes our journey is our own negative limited thinking. Question all that does not serve the greatest dream. Trusting our senses and our instincts is not enough we must journey further finding and facing the difficulties that blocks our path. Only then will we find the hope, faith and security that stands right behind the difficulty. To repeat Mr. Snipes’ words, “We are born to a world of difficulty, and we have to feed on it so that we will spread our spiritual wings and fly away.” Stand and face your difficulties today.

Blade
First Appearance: Tomb of Dracula #10, 1973

Creators: Marv Wolfman (script), and Gene Colan (art)