Do you have eyes, and fail to see? Do you have ears, and fail to hear? And do you not remember? (Mark 8: 18)
I have never gone through the gospels and counted, but it seems like Jesus healed quite a few people who were blind. Of course, it is possible all the stories of Jesus healing the blind are just the same one or two stories told over and over again. But either way, helping the blind see, as well as helping the deaf hear, was an important part of Jesus' ministry. In fact, in Matthew's gospel, when John the Baptist sent some of his disciples to ask Jesus if he was the Messiah, Jesus instructed them to tell John, among other things, how the blind see and the deaf hear. And Luke 4, a summary of the work of the Messiah, includes the, "recovery of sight to the blind." I don't know if seeing is believing, but clearly seeing was important to the work of Jesus.
Losing my vision has long been one of my greatest fears of growing older. Recently, my eye doctor recommended a particular vitamin supplement after seeing very early signs of macular degeneration. I take the vitamin in spite of the fact that it upsets my stomach because my eye sight is so important to me. I do not want to imagine a time when I cannot hold a book in my hand and read the words on the page, or witness the colorful splendor of fall, or see the bright smiles on my children's faces.
However, it occurs to me that is not the only type of blindness Jesus sought to heal. This fact was brought home to me recently when I came across a quote from Benton MacKaye, who is known as the "Father of the Appalachian Trail." MacKaye, who proposed the trail in 1921, said the purpose of the AT would be, "to see and to see what you see."
To see and to see what you see.
Do you have eyes, and fail to see, Jesus asked?
I wonder, what have I seen yet failed to really see? What wonders of creation have I failed to notice? What needs of the world have passed right in front of my unseeing eyes? What gifts of kindness have been offered but gone unrecognized? What gifts from God have I overlooked, or, more precisely, looked over?
In one of those often told healing stories in the gospels, Jesus asks a blind man, "What do you want me to do for you?" The man replies, "Lord, let me see again."
Today, that is my prayer. Lord, let me see again. Let me see the beauty I have missed, the wonders I have overlooked, the needs I can meet. Lord, let me truly see.
Worship This Week
Thursday, August 27, 6:30pm. We are now gathering outside in front of the church facing Chapel Street.
Sunday, August 30, 9am in the Peace Garden and on Facebook Live
(Note: Sunday worship returns to 10am on Sept. 6)
This Week: Whole People of God
If you choose to join us in person, please wear a mask and practice social distancing
Faith Formation:
Are you interested in joining in a faith formation class this fall? Based on Marcus Borg's book, "The Heart of Christianity," this will be an opportunity to explore the basics of faith and how it applies to our lives. For more information, contact Pastor Wayne.
Keep In Prayer:
Lorrie Watkins, Lyle Rhoad (brother-in-law to Betty Rhoad)
Our shut-ins: Kate Shelley, Dot Ann Smith, Nora Smith, Helen Payne