This week my 18-month-old granddaughter took my face in her little hands and planted a kiss on my cheek. My heart melted! I love watching her figure out what something is and how to use it. What noise does it make? Does this fit on top of here? Does it “open” and “shut”? Does it go “up” or “down”? All is new, there are no preconceived ideas or assumptions, it’s a world of discovery. 

    I try to imagine the life of the man born blind in this Sunday’s gospel, who was cured and finally able to see. I imagine there would be times when he would have to close his eyes and listen in order to figure out what something is. Seeing would be overwhelming! He’d be used to recognizing things by touching them and studying them with his hands. He’d recognize people by the sound of their voice, not by what they looked like. He would have to relearn everything, like a child discovering and rediscovering the world. 

    After living a life in which you and/or your parents were thought to be sinners because of your disability, what would it be like to finally be seen and given the gift of hope and sight? How often do I “see” someone and, based on my assumptions, view them as less than, lacking, or unclean, simply because they look different? I am so quick to put people in boxes and categories based on my first impression (worthy or unworthy, good and respectable or bad and dishonorable, nice and clean cut or dirty and unkempt, safe or too needy. etc.). Yet God has said “People see the appearance, but the LORD looks into the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7) Who or what am I being called to see with the eyes of my heart—from a new, loving, healing perspective? I may ask myself what I could give them, food or drink, but miss the thought that they could offer me something too if I were just open and took time to visit and learn from them.  And what about that car that is trying to get in my lane, do I welcome them and let them in? Do I visit those in the hospital or nursing homes? Do I care about those in jail and prison and whether they are being treated humanely and offered hope and forgiveness? Scripture also says “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’ And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did to the least brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25: 37-40) Have I surrounded myself with nice, safe people who don’t ask too much of me and remain blind to those in need? 

LORD, I don’t want to miss being kind and loving to You, to miss seeing You in every person I meet! Open the eyes of my heart. Help me to see You in all the faces of those who cross my path, to treat them with respect and dignity and to love them as You do, and to love them as I so easily love my granddaughter. 

Amen. 

I love this song, "Build My Life” by Housefires, because it starts with praise and recognizing God’s goodness and power and then goes into asking God to reveal Himself and open our eyes and to lead us into love for those around us. 

HOUSEFIRES - BUILD MY LIFE (lyric video)

De Colores - Jane Meiser