There’s a first time for everything, and sometimes we hope it’s the only time, right? It was a small thing, but it provided me food for thought. My traveling buddy and I were meeting up so that we took only one car to a Christian concert a few hours from home. I tried to gather all my belongings in one trip on what was a sunny day as I went to her car. About halfway into the trip I said, “Oh, no. I’m sure I forgot my regular glasses,” as I was donning my sunglasses. Sure enough, I looked through my bag to no avail of finding my regular glasses.
My glasses are just for distance, so I told my friend there was no chance I could help drive home since sunglasses aren’t conducive in the dark of night. I was determined to make the best of it because, truth be told, I often take my glasses off, especially when needing to read something. At the concert, I was able to secure a seat on the end of the third row to the left of center stage. The screen with the lyrics on it was big enough for me to see, so it was mostly that I just couldn’t see quite so clearly the faces or eyes of the people on stage.
Jon Reddick, Mac Powell holding my latest book, Cochran & Co.
I was very happy the artist did not need glasses and could see my 8 ½ x 11 sheet of paper with the word ‘Offering’ in magic marker (that a fan lent me) during the song request time. He always says if you make a sign, he has to play it if he remembers; true to his word, he did, which blessed me. When I returned to my car, I was relieved and happy to find my regular glasses and to be able to see clearly on the last leg of the ride home.
It made me think about our walk with the Lord and our faith.
How often do we not see clearly in our faith journey?
Do we ask Jesus to help us see clearly like He does?
They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. –Mark 8:22-25 (NIV)
This is a beautiful story found only in Mark’s Gospel that is filled with nuggets of wisdom for us. The blind man had ‘community’ that brought him to Jesus, and they begged Him to touch the man. Notice how Jesus was more than willing to grasp the hand of the blind man to lead him away from the crowd. I never noticed that Jesus spit directly on the man’s eyes and then placed His healing hands on the blind man’s eyes. The blind man could not see clearly the first time, so Jesus’ hands touched his eyes again, and then he could see everything clearly.
I believe this story also highlights that sometimes healings or miracles come in stages—it isn’t always an immediate response. Sometimes we experience growth over time and learn to be patient. But it is important to remember that God is always working, even if we don’t see it.
With this story, I can’t help but wonder if the trees that the man first saw representing people were a recognition that Jesus would die on the tree of life, the cross, for our salvation.
If we view our lives as trees, what is our response to these questions?
How deep do your roots go?
How plentiful are your leaves or the fruit that grows from your life?
Be encouraged this week to…
… reach out to those in your ‘community’ that need Jesus’ healing touch.
… feel Jesus’ hand grasping yours as He leads.
… ask Jesus what healing needs to take place in you.
… pray to see clearly like Jesus does.
REFLECTION:
What healing is needed in your life that Jesus is bringing to mind?
Can you recount a time when you witnessed a two-step healing?
Jesus, please help us keep our eyes always clearly fixed on you. Please help adjust our vision when things are unclear, when they are out of focus, or when we lose our focus. Gently guide us to see with the eyes of our hearts and our eyes clearly as we trust you. We pray in Jesus’ precious name. Amen.
God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. –Matthew 5:8 (NLT)
I will take a week off to embrace the fullness of this Holy Week and Easter. Feel free to stop by and read a reflection anytime! He is Risen!
