1 Corinthians
13:12: For now
we see in a mirror, dimly, but
then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully,
even as I have been fully known.
It seems I have a cataract which needs to be removed next
month. In the cosmic realm of things this isn’t the worst event to have happen
to a person. It is a relatively easy procedure and follow-up plan to clear
vision. I have learned to live with this thing, and have adjusted my life
around it. I can’t see all that well, but I can make do. It isn’t perfect, but
I have learned to live with less than perfect vision for the first time in my
life and have discovered that it isn’t all that difficult. This makes me think
about my relationship with God.
We all have areas of our lives that aren’t perfect. We
learn to live with them and actually leave them alone for the most part. As
long as we can function on some level, we tell ourselves, we are doing ok. That
may work for a time in the physical life, but it only leads to bigger problems
down the road. The same is true with our spiritual lives. Maybe we know we
spend too much time playing in the seven deadly sins, but since we are only
spending a few hours playing video games, or watching a little too much TV or
engaging in gossip just at work, or eat a wee bit too much all day long, or
entertain angry thoughts but heck the person did me wrong, or take all the
credit for something but only when I really feel I did more than the other guy,
and you get the picture. They start small, seemingly innocent, but in fact will
lead to our spiritual death.
There is another “I” problem that clouds vision. Did you
ever try to count how many times some people use the pronoun “I”? They are
clouded in their vision of themselves in relation to others, and cannot see any
faults in themselves, only in others. They are free and easy in telling other
people what is wrong with them, are very slow to forgive a perceived injury and
absolutely feel that if they are not made right all the time, then the other
person isn’t worth knowing. This “I” problem is as dangerous as the first,
since in both cases we are blinding
ourselves to the truth as to who we really are and what we need to do to once
again become children of God.
I will be able to have surgery to remove my cataract and
improve my physical vision, but then it is time to do spiritual surgery as
well. Those pesky deadly sins need to be removed completely or they will, well,
kill us. Pride, greed, lust, sloth (laziness or wasting productive time on
unproductive activity), envy, gluttony, and anger are all so easy to justify
and live with, but when we examine those areas in our lives, we find that they
take precious time away from our spiritual development, cause us to be less
than the person God designed when He created us, and limit our true vision of
ourselves. They start out small, like a bad habit, and, just as my cataract now
completely covers my retina, they become obsessions and completely define who
we are. It isn’t easy to let them go,
but choosing God instead has infinitely greater rewards.
The same is true for the ego centered “I” problem. It causes us to see ourselves as more
important than those around us. Even our charitable works have a hidden motive
behind them, since nothing we do is other- based, but only self- centered. Like
my cataract, egoism begins with little bit of distorted pride, or an inkling of
inferiority, or maybe even anger. Then it becomes self-preservation and so hard
to remove. It is one of the main reasons we can’t get close to God. He is
asking us to give ourselves to Him completely and totally, to wake in the
morning and say, “Do with me as you will today” and let go of all control.
Although this “I” problem requires major surgery, with God’s help and grace, it
is so very possible and so freeing.
I cannot wait until I can see the world again as it
really exists. Right now I am looking through a clouded mirror. Soon the beauty
and light of God’s world will be made clear again to me. Let us start today to
remove the areas of our lives which are clouding our visions of ourselves and
let God’s light shine in us. Only then can we let ourselves shine for others.
I Can See Clearly
Now by Jimmy Cliff
I can see clearly now the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It's gonna be a bright, bright sunshinin' day
It's gonna be a bright, bright sunshinin' day
Oh yes, I can make it now the pain is gone
All of the bad feelings have disappeared
Here is the rainbow I've been praying for
It's gonna be a bright, bright sunshinin' day
Look all around, there's nothing but blue skies
Look straight ahead, there's nothing but blue skies
I can see clearly now the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Here's the rainbow I've been praying for
It's gonna be a bright, bright sunshinin' day
It's gonna be a bright, bright sunshinin' day
Real, real, real, real bright, bright sunshinin' day
Yeah, hey, it's gonna be a bright, bright sunshinin' day
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It's gonna be a bright, bright sunshinin' day
It's gonna be a bright, bright sunshinin' day
Oh yes, I can make it now the pain is gone
All of the bad feelings have disappeared
Here is the rainbow I've been praying for
It's gonna be a bright, bright sunshinin' day
Look all around, there's nothing but blue skies
Look straight ahead, there's nothing but blue skies
I can see clearly now the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Here's the rainbow I've been praying for
It's gonna be a bright, bright sunshinin' day
It's gonna be a bright, bright sunshinin' day
Real, real, real, real bright, bright sunshinin' day
Yeah, hey, it's gonna be a bright, bright sunshinin' day
No comments:
Post a Comment