Lord, I Believe

The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.” He answered, “I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” Then they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” The man answered, “Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” And they drove him out.
Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped him. Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.” Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not blind, are we?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.” John 9:18-41 

In both towns where I grew up there was a duck pond that I saw most everyday. Ducks aren't particularly noble creatures but they are constant, insistent and rooted. They are not very bright. They don't fly south for the winter. They believe all of their needs will be provided for in that one place. They somehow know that there will be food enough for them and their offspring. They were joined in season by other migratory birds. And they found a way to live side by side with most of them. As a child, I would often go and watch them, talk to them and listen to them talk back and forth. I would bring bread crusts and feed them and they would eat out of my hand. The would clamber over to me quacking and enjoying the moment. They believed that their needs would be met. I was grateful for their constant presence in my life still.

The bling man who had regained his sight was grilled by the religious leaders. They poked and prodded and then threw him out, probably for good. They gave him no blessing, and did not rejoice in his healing, but rather, punished him for his good fortune. Jesus sought him out and helped him understand what had happened to him. Jesus was there for him when the religious authorities were not. There was no judgement but rather simple explanation and love. The man responded with faith and love. We are invited by God to know that we are rooted in and loved, sought out when rejected, healed and taught when we are brokwn.

Today I ask God to help me have the simple faith in the untold mercies and blessings found in God's love. May we not fear the judgement and rejection of the world, but rather be firmly rooted on God's love, knowing that we will be sought out, we will find healing and our needs will be divinely met.