I Was Blind

I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else. C. S. Lewis I was born near-sighted. Not the "coke-bottle bottom glasses" kind of near-sighted. I didn't have any trouble seeing small things like buildings or trees. I was pretty functional, and knew no better until my second grade teacher saw me squinting. She decided to send a note home to my parents, suggesting they take me to the eye doctor. I was not particularly happy about this, as I thought there was nothing wrong with my sight and I'd heard plenty of insults thrown at "four-eyes" - one of the most moronic insults in the history of bad insults. But my 8 year old protests were to no avail, and off to the doctor we went. In the due course of time, my new Cross to Bear came, the doctor fitted them to my face, and I walked miserably outside. ...Weeping may stay for the night, but shouts of joy will come in the morning. Psalm 30:5 The pure, unbridled joy that burst from my heart is still fresh, nearly 50 years later. Suddenly, things that had been blurry and gray burst into my sight in ways I had never even imagined. I burst out in wonder and joy at a world made brand new, thrilled at the most mundane things that I had never seen clearly before. Trees, blades of grass, billboards, smudges on windows - they all burst into my joyful attention. (That's a lot of bursting, I know, but that's how I remember it.) We were all born sightless, never seeing the gorgeousness of God until - and unless - He opens our eyes. Jesus answered him, “Most certainly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can’t see the Kingdom of God.” John 3:3 Let me be like my teacher of long ago, and point you to the Great Physician, because, "Once I was blind, now I see." Don't miss the Glory of brand new eyes because of what people might say, or how you think it'll look. Trust me, a shout of joy is just waiting to BURST out of you!

I Was Blind

"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else." C. S. Lewis I was born near-sighted. Not the "coke-bottle bottom glasses" kind of near-sighted. I didn't have any trouble seeing small things like buildings or trees. I was pretty functional, and knew no better until my second grade teacher saw me squinting. She decided to send a note home to my parents, suggesting they take me to the eye doctor. I was not particularly happy about this, as I thought there was nothing wrong with my sight and I'd heard plenty of insults thrown at "four-eyes" - one of the most moronic insults in the history of bad insults. But my 8 year old protests were to no avail, and off to the doctor we went. In the due course of time, my new Cross to Bear came, the doctor fitted them to my face, and I walked miserably outside. ...Weeping may stay for the night, but shouts of joy will come in the morning. Psalm 30:5 The pure, unbridled joy that burst from my heart is still fresh, nearly 50 years later. Suddenly, things that had been blurry and gray burst into my sight in ways I had never even imagined. I burst out in wonder and joy at a world made brand new, thrilled at the most mundane things that I had never seen clearly before. Trees, blades of grass, billboards, smudges on windows - they all burst into my joyful attention. (That's a lot of bursting,I know, but that's how I remember it.) We were all born sightless, never seeing the gorgeousness of God until - and unless - He opens our eyes. Jesus answered him, “Most certainly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can’t see the Kingdom of God.” John 3:3 Let me be like my teacher of long ago, and point you to the Great Physician, because, "Once I was blind, now I see." Don't miss the Glory of brand new eyes because of what people might say, or what you think might happen! Believing is SEEING!