August 30, 2022
Reflections – May I See Clearly
Do you see clearly?
“And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him…” (Luke 24:15-16)
Something like Jesus’ appearance on the road to Emmaus, I am vision challenged! But my challenge is a bit more practical. Both eyes have a condition called kerataconus, a condition in which they become shaped more like an American football than a soccer ball. As a result, I wear two contact lenses in each eye in addition to using reading glasses for close-up vision and regular glasses for distance. And, of course, sunglasses are essential for getting past the glare when driving directly into the sun. All combined, these devices provide me with almost 20/20 vision; but don’t ask me to see something early in the morning before I’ve put my “vision support” system in place! As they say, I’m as blind as a bat and need help in order to see clearly.
It is an understatement that we all need help to see with spiritual clarity. How clearly do you see the Jesus who walks beside you? Where does your help come from?
Some time ago I realized that these contact lenses I wear could become the basis for a morning prayer practice. The first contact to go in is a soft lens that serves as a “band-aid” under a hard gas permeable lens that does the actual vision correction. So, as I am putting them in, I say two prayers. With the soft contact, I pray that God will protect me from seeing what I should not see or dwell on. “Filter my vision so that I see only the good and miss the evil.” Then, as the hard contacts are inserted, I pray that I might have 20/20 vision for what I do see. “May I see clearly what you put before me. May I see Jesus!” There you have it. Let me see only a wholesome, good and uplifting world. Then let me see that world clearly.
Whether you wear contact lenses or not, this two-fold prayer practice may be a helpful tool to get your day off to a holy start. Try it this week and see if it helps!
Blessings and peace,
Chaplain Allen
chaplain@nationsu.edu
chaplainscorner.org
Disclaimer statement: Please note that the opinions expressed herein are those of the Chaplain alone and are based on his personal understanding of scripture and how God works in our lives.
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