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LIGHTNING'S DESTRUCTIVE AND TRANSFORMATIVE POWER LIGHTNING'S DESTRUCTIVE AND TRANSFORMATIVE POWER Lightning strike survivors can be cursed by disturbing physical and emotional effects, but sometimes they are blessed with spiritual insights or they experience weird paranormal phenomena. n 28 September 1983, Roy Cleveland Sullivan, aged 71, pointed a gun at his stomach and pulled the trigger, ending his life. Sullivan had worked as a ranger in the Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, USA, for much of his life. As to the motivation behind his suicide, it is thought that he suffered a broken heart after being rejected by a woman he loved. But Sullivan had another reason to feel depressed and unlucky; between 1942 and 1977 he was struck by lightning a total of seven times, earning im the nickname "human lightning rod" as well as a place in The Guinness Book of World Records. No one on record has been struck by lightning as many times as Sullivan. Given his extremely bad luck, it's little wonder that Sullivan considered imself cursed. He was convinced that some force was out to destroy him and e constantly feared death. Anyone in his situation would likely suffer from depression and paranoia. But, in addition to the psychological damage that ightning strike injuries can cause, Sullivan probably suffered from a number of inexplicable physical and neurological symptoms that made his life unbearable. Such is the case with lightning strike victims. Few can deny that ightning is a mysterious force of nature. In fact, scientists don't yet understand exactly how it works. Equally mysterious are the effects it has on those who are struck by it. Although not officially verified—and therefore not counted like the other seven incidents—the first time that Sullivan said he was struck by lightning was as a child, while cutting wheat in a meadow with his father. Fortunately, hough, instead of hitting him directly and causing harm, the lightning struck he blade of the scythe he was holding, bouncing off along the ground and setting the grass on fire. Born in Greene County, Virginia, on 7 February 1912, Sullivan began his career as a Shenandoah National Park ranger in 1936. Had e chosen a different career—one that didn't involve spending so much time outdoors in a lightning-prone area—he probably would have been spared much misfortune in life. In April 1942, while taking refuge from a thunderstorm inside a fire lookou ower, Sullivan sustained his first official—and most severe—lightning strike. | was documented by the superintendent of Shenandoah National Park and was also confirmed by doctors. The tower was newly built and hadn't yet been fitted with a lightning rod. Because inside the tower "fire was jumping all over the place", Sullivan ran outside and was instantly struck by lightning. "It burned a alf-inch strip all the way down my right leg and also knocked my big toe off,” stated Sullivan in a 1972 Washington Post interview. "My boot was full of blood, and it ran out through a hole in the sole." In July 1969, while driving along a mountain road, Sullivan sustained his second lightning strike. After hitting nearby trees, the lightning was deflected into the open window of his truck, knocking him unconscious and burning off most of his hair including his eyelashes and eyebrows. (Usually when lightning strikes a vehicle—particularly one with the windows closed—the passengers Email: louisproud@gmail.com NEXUS ¢ 51 by Louis Proud © 2009 FEBRUARY - MARCH 2010 www.nexusmagazine.com