Seeing Clearly

And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” And he looked up and said, “I see men, but they look like trees, walking.” Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. And he sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.” And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him. And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” Mark 8:22-33

The first time I needed glasses was after I had been in college for a semester. The correction was mild, and I am nearsighted, but I remember that visit with the eye doctor clearly. "Better here or here?" was the repeated question. As the optometrist had my chin cradled in the device, lenses changed with the clicking of the machine. "One or two?" Better here or here?" I really couldn't make up my mind easily. Things had been fuzzy for so long I didn't really know what the right answer was. It all looked better than how I had been seeing.

Jesus heals a blind man, with the participation it seems, of the man himself. What do you see? The man had to describe what he saw and then an adjustment was made so that it was completely clear. And then he moved onto the disciples who are likewise having trouble seeing what is in front of their faces. Jesus asks them what are other people seeing and then asks them what they see. Peter make a very bold and heartfelt statement
which he quickly stumbles over and loses sight of. Faith comes in slow adjustments, it seems, like eye sight, or healing, and we are invited to participate in that healing and seek clearer vision at all times.

Today, I ask God to help me to see clearly the ways I have been blind to God's working in my life and to the needs of those around me. I ask God to open my eyes that I would see the work that is before me and the multitude of gifts and abundance God provides every day. May we all be granted the sight we need for today and the vision for tomorrow.