There are ways a person can be blind or deaf and not really be either.
There are ways a person can see and hear and not really be either.
Helen Keller was blind, yet she could see a world of beauty that most people miss. She was deaf, yet she could hear truth in the simplest of things. For a long time she could not speak, yet her life formed words which still ring loud and clear even today.
Most of us know the story of Helen Keller. She suffered an illness as a child that banished her to a dark world where she could feel but not express. Her teacher and lifelong friend, Anne Sullivan, embraced and rescued her with love and gave her a way to express herself. Helen’s own words speak for themselves:
I can see, and that is why I can be happy, in what you call the dark, but which to me is golden. I can see a God-made world, not a man-made world.
Let me restate: there are ways a person be blind or deaf and not really be either. The opposite is also true.
Which one are you? Do you take delight in each new day…each new task…each new sunrise and sunset? Do you hear what is being “said” or are you deaf? Maybe today is a good day to start seeing and hearing and breaking free from the chains of darkness.
I guess I’d have to say that I’m a pretty mixed bag.
Sometimes I see it…and hear it…and other times I’m oblivious to it because I’m so focused on my problems.
I suspect we all would say we are a mixed bag Stephen. As you say, depends on my focus.
A great bit of inspiration here today. Thanks.
Every once in a while. 🙂 Thanks Daniel.
I really like this post Bill. I’ve really had to think about if I’m deaf or blind…..some days I am both. I’m so thankful that God understands that we humans are flawed and have our eyes & ears closed at time, however, I know I must have them wide open to the way that God wants me to live my life for him. Sometimes I just need a knock up side the head to get my attention! Thanks Bill. 🙂
Being both is not unusual…all in the same day…Jan. But it never hurts to be reminded. 🙂
I just re-read…..I know I should take delight in each new day, I am delighted more days than others, it’s sometimes a struggle when the evil one wants to use depression to keep me from his delightful days.
For some it is more of a struggle than for others. Depression is an ugly thing to struggle with.
I would like to say I do, but I know I fail too often.
Join the club
No chains of darkness here. I am sympathetic to those living in the darkness. It can be biological but more often it is attitude or situational. Sometimes it is just a matter of looking for the light. And no I don’t think the evil one is out to ruin my day. Although when I was married she did ruin a lot of days.
You are right Jeff, about the attitude playing a big part. As for the last sentence, I am speechless. 🙂
Good post Bill…nothing worst then walking around in a darken state, nothing better than having light pour in and drive the darkness away. One does not have to have physical eyes to see the light of the world. It’s a heart issue and if it’s full of self then all one will see is themselves. Wish I could say I walk in the light all the time but like everyone else I am not perfect but I sure know the one who can turn darkness into light.
So totally agree with you Betty about one not needing physical eyes to see the light of the world. I would venture to say a person can’t see the Light of the world with physical eyes. It is a spiritual thing. Thanks.
I really appreciated this post, Bill. So many days, I walk around with blinders on.
You’re welcome Pam. Welcome to my blog. We could very well walk into each other Pam since I sometimes wear blinders also. 🙂
I seem to exist on a continuum. Some days I see and hear better than others. Some days, I don’t do either well. I let my environment and other people influence both of those too much at times. When my focus gets off God, I don’t see and hear well at all.
is that continuum a circle? 🙂 One day I’m strong and the next not so.
I can say that right now I am both blind and deaf. I don’t always truly see nor do I really listen. Breaking free from the chains of darkness is a beautiful thing. But in the darkness there are also valuable lessons to learn. I think it’s good to linger in the darkness a while, to learn, to grow. When those lessons are taken to heart, it makes the light that much better and sweeter. At least, that’s been the case for me.
I do agree with you Thomas about lessons can be learned in the dark. Good thing for me. 🙂 I mess up way too often and forget to see with “good eyes.” Thanks for coming by.
Great post and point, Bill. The awesome gift of our senses truly can lead us to miss seeing, feeling, and sensing the truth of this short life. How often in this life will we learn that when it comes to our senses less is more and still not truly grasp it…
Thanks Floyd. God has given us a great gift in our senses.
Thank you . .. I always need to hear this and act on it!
You’re welcome Deb.
During this time of trial – remodeling, Sam’s surgery, my work troubles – that was our main focus. To find something in each single day to rejoice about. Tami and I have joined the #100happydays challenge and for me it was a stimulus I needed to keep finding something in each day I was happy about.
Didn’t know about the work troubles. 🙁 Also didn’t know about the 100 happy days challenge. how are you doing with it?
Yeah – we had the local kind of FBI / CIA come investigate some of the projects. Ours wasn’t under suspicion because everything was okay, but because we were close by office-wise, they decided to check us too and took all the computers and stuff. So for two or three weeks we worked from home – the only trouble was that Sam and I didn’t have a home in that time, due to remodeling. So I was all over Kyiv basically. The main thing was that we weren’t sure if we’ll have financing and therefore financially we weren’t unsure what’s up. Thankfully we’re back on track and it was a somewhat good thing in the long run.
What a way to start a marriage. 😛 Sounds like guilty by association.
Hahaha, no kidding. That’s our running joke with Sam – our beginning-of-marriage story will be a great bedtime story for our kids / grandkids. And if it’s only the beginning???? Hahaha.
It gets better!!
Re: 100happydays – we do it via Instagram. My account is http://instagram.com/zenichka. Basically, you take a picture every day of something that makes you happy. I’m a couple of days behind 🙂
Hmmm wonder why she hasn’t taken a picture of me and posted it? 😀
Dunno – but there are a few of the Little Man 🙂 Perhaps she’s saving you for “dessert”? 😀
Gonna have to hide that little man from her camera when I with them later this month. He takes all the glory. LOL
Or, you can pose with him. It would be a doubly glorious photo 😀
Yeah…if he would let me. Or if Tami would want us together. He steals the show and her heart.
I’m not even going to pretend that I wake up every day delighting in everything around me or even what I have to get done. Some days, sure. But I’m not 100%. I would certainly like to make that a priority. Good stuff, Bill. Thank you.
Hi Bill,
I think we all need reminders to stop and truly see the beauty around us, of God’s world, of people, etc.
I loved the Helen Keller books when I was a kid.
Jennifer Dougan
http://www.jenniferdougan.com