From Darkness to Light

“Crissy! Do you want your eggs blinded?”

Blinded? What in the world was Aunt Lila talking about?

“I don’t know. Do I? What do you mean, blinded?”

“Well, you see these big yellow egg eyes staring at you? I just splash some of the hot grease on them.“

I wasn’t that particular about my fried eggs, so I let her go ahead and “blind” them.

***

I had a good friend in college who was blind from birth, or almost from birth. Karen was born prematurely, but she had perfect eyes. Unfortunately the oxygen level was too high in the incubator she was placed in, and her eyes became blind.

Karen taught me a lot about blindness. When we walked down the sidewalk together, she asked to take my arm instead of me grasping hers. The sensation of being pulled or pushed down the street was unsettling to her. She also admonished me when I didn’t notice a branch was hanging down in her path and it hit her in the face. “You know. I really can’t see those things!”

I was always amazed at the acceptance she had of her condition and the good humor that permeated her personality. I also knew her blindness was only physical. Even though she couldn’t see my tears, she knew when I was crying. She wasn’t blind to the misery of others.

***

Scriptures warn us about taking advantage of someone who is blind. “Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the Lord” (Leviticus19:14). Curse the deaf? The deaf person can’t hear the curse, so who is it intended for? The blind person can’t see the stumbling block until it’s too late. Is this mean-spirited display for the amusement of those who can hear and see? Is it an encouragement for those who agree with the tormentor to participate in the ridicule of somone who has problems, who is at a disadvantage,? Deuteronomy warns that anyone who leads a blind person astray on the road will be cursed himself! (27:18) It takes a special cruelty to be this heartless.

***

Even with perfect eyesight, we can have vision problems. Distractions blind us. Even worse than disease, we can be blinded by greed or ambition.

How quickly some people follow the guidance of people who are blinded to the truth. Now who in their right mind would hire a person who is blind to lead them on a search for treasure? No one, of course. But these are the very blind guides that our Lord Jesus warned against (Matthew 15:14).

God cares about those who are spiritually perishing because of their lack of sight. He intervened personally in the life of Saul when He blinded that persecutor with the brilliance of His light. It wasn’t until Saul’s sight was taken from him that he actually was able to see. He no longer was distracted by his own self righteousness. He no longer was blinded by hate towards the followers of the Christ. He could only hear a voice, the Voice of his Lord Jesus.

Sometimes we too can be so distracted or convinced by what we see or think we understand that we miss the vision the Lord is trying to give us. Sometimes we wear blinders that keep us focused on a path to misconceptions and prevent us from seeing the whole picture. Sometimes we are so dazzled by something or someone, the glittering lights, the shiny displays of self absorption and self service, that we are hoodwinked into following a plan that our good sense and discernment would otherwise steer us away from. We start to believe that we have everything we need. We look to ourselves and our own accomplishments. We are convinced we have perfect vision.

The Lord cautions us about our misplaced sight, that inward view that leads to blindness. Just as He warned that self-serving, self confident church in Revelations 3, He reminds us that we too can be blinded by this world and what it has to offer. That's when we miss out on the true riches that are ours if we only listen to His voice.

***

For many years a dear friend carried the eternal light from the dark sanctuary and back in again at our Good Friday Tenebrae services. But the first time he carried the light up the altar steps to its place, he held it so close to his face that he couldn’t see in front of him. He was the only one who had light, yet he stumbled up the stairs, lurching forward and catching his fall at the last minute.

I too can have God’s light too close to my face. Sometimes I’m focused on it so intently that I don’t see the path He has laid before me. I don’t see those around me that need my help. I don’t offer the light to others who are blindly going in the wrong direction. I don’t allow it to shine on my own failings that I justify to myself.

It’s all about me, basking in His Light instead of using it as a “light unto my path” or even a “light to the world.” I’m so intent on singing out, “I was blind, but now I see!” and “This little light of mine” that I miss out on the follow up words: “I’m gonna let it shine!”

But if I’m using my Light for others, I don’t have to worry about losing my own way. For my Savior reminds me in Isaiah 42:16

“Along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;

 I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth.

These are the things I will do. I will not forsake them.”

Ah, there’s the eternal promise: My Lord Jesus will always conquer the darkness. He will always lead me. And most of all, He will never forsake me.

Leaving my guilt at the cross,

Christine