Although Steven McLeish was told he was stupid, his writing ability has now reached a level that he can write in a way that can be read both backwards and forwards. Enjoy this clever video!
Entitled ‘Backwards’ it is based on flipping the script on dyslexia and it took Steven two years to write and produce the video but he feels it is worth it if it helps people! We hope you enjoy it and that it will inspire you or someone you know. “Flip the script on the negative story the world has tried to write about you and go after your dreams,” says Steven.
How I overcame my struggle with dyslexia
I was diagnosed with dyslexia as a child at school and it held me back for much of my younger life. Many negative labels were attached to my life and I thought that I was stupid and felt like a failure, always falling behind in class. So, my long-term aim was really low. When I thought of what kind of job I would have after school I didn’t see myself as amounting to much, even though I had big dreams and desires in my heart. One of these was to be a writer, although at the time I could hardly read or write.
Then, I gave my life to Jesus when I was 14-years-old at youth group and my life changed. However, it would still be a struggle for me to grow spiritually. Yes, I could pray, serve, fellowship and give, but I couldn’t read my Bible. I did try and listen to an audio version, but I couldn’t focus for long, until one day when I had an encounter with God…
One day, while I was praying in my room with my Bible in my hand asking God to help me read it, I felt as if scales had fallen from my eyes. After that, I could read and understand my Bible and would read three to four books a week.
A scripture that was an encouragement to me was 1 Corinthians 1:27: “God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And He chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.”
Flip the script on your negative
story and go after your dreams!
I took off all the negative labels that the world had put on me and I decided to believe the truths what God said about me in His Word. I started going for everything God had for me and I went from not being able to read the Bible to now having the privilege to be a youth pastor, from aiming for a low job to now walking in my calling, from not reading any books to becoming a bookworm!
Yes, I still struggle with spelling, but God has given me an amazing wife, Charis to help me and so I now write blogs and write and perform spoken word which has taken me around the world to preach the Gospel, including on TV, radio, podcast and in magazines. I hope you enjoy my spoken word presentation above entitled, Backwards Dyslexia.
I can honestly say that God has truly made all things work together for good in my life. (See Romans 8:28) So, go after all God has for you, so He can get all the glory. It’s all about Jesus. With God there’s no going backwards even if you have dyslexia. It’s forwards all the way. Even if you have to read your words backwards!
This article was written by Scottish youth pastor, Steven McLeish who serves at Destiny Church, Glasgow. He is also a spoken word artist with several videos on YouTube. These can be watched on his Spoken Light channel.