Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) persevered despite OCD and Tourette Syndrome. He himself said, “Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance.” His accomplishments were even more impressive given his considerable limitations. Samuel was a literary genius, writing distinctive poetry and engaging short stories. He compiled the definitive Dictionary of the English Language, more commonly known as Johnson’s Dictionary. It consumed eight years of his life, contained 42,773 entries, and weighed twenty pounds. It was a testament to his wit, humor, and perseverance.
People often commented on his nervous tics and ridiculed his wild gestures. Friends were perplexed by his ritualized movements and compulsive tendencies. He displayed many of the obsessive-compulsive traits commonly associated with Tourette’s Syndrome. He was rejected for a headmaster position solely for his “distorting the face” tendencies. Yet he endured. He had no personal knowledge of what ailed him. There were no meditations or therapies to take to lessen the affliction. His condition went undiagnosed during his lifetime. A century later, the medical community identified the disorder and began to treat it.
Samuel was a devout Christian and kept a prayer journal to center his life in faith. He prayed, “Grant that I may no longer be disturbed by doubts and harassed by vain terrors.” Yes, great works are performed by perseverance. Samuel’s prayer of confession humbles and draws me in: