As Long

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Having said these things, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. John 9:1-7

As long as I am here, let me.....I have been thinking about all the ways people can and do make a difference in the world. I know that it is easy to give up trying since the world can be a hard and unfair place. Christians can live their lives with the light and hope of Christ only to have it dashed and rubbed out by cruelty and injustice. Many can feel that God is punishing them for some known or unknown sin when things fall apart. We all sometimes lose hope and leave off trying.

A poor blind beggar was accused of being sinful just because he was blind. The world gave him nothing and ridiculed him for his disability. The leaders of the temple were convinced that he was evil or his parents were, and God was punishing them. It is a common fact of life. People are cruel at times and good people can be shallow and rude. But God is not people. God is light and healing,love and restoration. God's desire is for us to be in relationship and to know God's abundance and kindness. God is not about punishment for fun or sport. God is not about punishment although there are many who would wish it were so.

Today, I ask God to give me a new measure of sight. I ask to see with compassion, to love with patience and reassurance and to find the good and the God in every situation.