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Blind Spots

9/11/2018

4 Comments

 
Picture
Red dust caked his sweaty brow, dried his cracked lips and settled on his unseeing eyes. Today, like every day he sat by the side of the road desperate for kindness. But everyone passed by too busy to notice him, to stop and give that one coin that would make his next meal possible. The sun was relentless but so was his need.
 
It never got easier, the loneliness, the aching longing for someone to care, even to be able to see the passing crowd and catch their eye.  But something was different today, he sensed a swelling crowd, a sense of urgency and someone told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is coming”.
 
“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me”, he called out again and again. The crowd tried to silence him but he screamed all the louder, desperate to be heard over the noisy throng.
 
Jesus heard, not just his cry, but his faith. Calling for him to be brought to him, Jesus asked the strange question, “What do you want me to do for you?” “I want to see”, the blind beggar replied.
 
His healing was instant. This man who’d had no sight, no job and totally dependent on others, had the most important thing that no money can buy, he had faith and Jesus said, “Your faith has saved and healed you”.
 
Where are my blind spots?
Where am I blind to the truth about myself – denying reality?
Where is the log in my own eye?
Where am I failing to recognise God’s leading?
Where am I blind to the unhelpful ways I relate to others?
 
Lord, I want to see.
 
Where am I blind to your glory around me everyday?
Where do I fail to see the beauty in others?
Where is love being offered and I don’t even notice?
Where do I scurry passed the needy, the person who longs for love and understanding, the grieving, the homeless, the lonely?
 
Lord, I want to see.
​Open my eyes.
4 Comments
Donna Larcos
9/10/2018 10:18:46 pm

In my youth, I taught communication skills to the blind for nearly four years. Many were newly blind or had recently lost their sight. I remember once going on an excursion with a group of blind skiers. I was a raw beginner and stayed very close to the low runs. My colleague, an experienced skier, went up an intermediate slope with those who had skied before losing their sight.

As the skiers stood at the top waiting to be paired with a sighted buddy, one of the skiers said to him, "What is in front of me?" Thinking he was anxious or nervous, my colleague replied "Nothing, it's just an open slope. I'll be with you in a minute," and he turned to talk to the ski instructor. Suddenly, he turned around and the blind skier was gone. He was traversing the slope at great speed and with great skill, cutting through the fresh powder snow as it was early in the morning and the slope was deserted. That sense of freedom that came from knowing there was nothing on the slope that could hurt him gave him an experience he hadn't felt for more than a decade.

I often think this might be how Christ might feel, to be able to lay your hands on someone and know they would certainly rise from the dead or have their sight restored, to have the faith to know there is nothing in front of me and no obstacle to whatever I want to do or achieve.

I haven't moved any mountains lately, but I do hope one day to see that open slope in front of me and just take off!

Reply
Melissa
9/11/2018 03:15:59 am

Best comment ever. Like a second blog. Thank u

Reply
Glenyss
9/14/2018 01:34:36 am

Isn't it a great story! Forever now my image of faith will be that man skiing down the mountain.

Peter Stanton
9/12/2018 01:07:29 am

It's a double WOW to you Glenyss and to you Donna for such insights...

Reply



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    Glenyss Barnham
    ​I'm a mother and grandmother who loves  discovering beauty in unexpected places.

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