I AM WHO I AM

 

In Ancient Egypt, around the time of Ramses II, the Hebrew people worked as hired servants. They had lived in Egypt for several hundred years before being enslaved. As the new generations grew up, they would become familiar with the Egyptian gods. The Egyptians worshipped many gods including Ra, Thoth, Horus, and many others. The Egyptians did not worship the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. No temple for the Hebrew God lay in Egypt. The Hebrew people would be very knowledgeable about the Egyptian gods, each god having authority over something different. They would know that Ra was the god of the sun, and Thoth was the god of science. Even Pharaoh himself was looked upon as a god.

When God spoke to Moses at the burning bush, calling him to go to Egypt and set His people free, Moses knew that the people would ask to know what god would deliver them. [Exo 3:13-14 ESV] 13 Then Moses said to God, "If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' what shall I say to them?"

There were so many gods, and each had a name, they would want to know which would come to their aid. [Exo 3:14 ESV] 14 God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel: 'I AM has sent me to you.'"

God called himself I AM WHO I AM. To some that may be a strange thing to call yourself. It seems that it does not give much description if you are unsure who He was. However, it reveals more about who he is than would first appear.

The name in the original Hebrew language is where we get the name YHWH or Yahweh. It is a name that reminds the people that while they had become familiar with all the Egyptian gods, He was still there. He never left them.

By saying he was I am Who I am, he is declaring that He is always there. He is self-sufficient, all-knowing, and all-powerful. He is not just a god with authority over one realm. He is the God of all creation.

Understanding who the great I AM is makes a world of difference in your perspective. The Hebrew people needed many things soon. The great I AM would be those things.

The name declares what he will do for them not because He had to do it, but because it is in His very nature to do it due to His great love for them.

His name declares to them: I AM your deliverer, I AM your protector, I AM your shield,  I AM your shelter, I AM your peace, I AM your guide, I AM your restorer, I AM your healer, I AM your provider, I AM whatever you need, and I AM your God.

God was all those things as they escaped from Egypt.

The good news is that God never stopped being I AM WHO I AM. He was not just for the Hebrew people. He is the great I AM to anyone who receives him as their God. He is all you need. He wants you to have peace, deliverance, provision, shelter, and everything else that he has to offer. He wants you to have this because he loves you. His name also dictates that I AM love.  [1Jo 4:8 ESV] 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God because God is love.

We all need help. We try to do things on our own, but something always seems missing. Nothing and no one else can fill the void that only God can fill. Don’t waste your time looking for others to meet whatever need you have. Search for the great I AM, who has already made himself available to be found.

[Deu 4:29 ESV] 29 But from there you will seek the LORD your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.

From The Penthouse to the Pavement

I love a good rags-to-riches story. People who start with nothing and become successful. Others with no education invent something that everyone wants or needs. Some became vastly popular because of the good they had done while growing up being told they were useless and would amount to nothing. People who have started at the bottom and worked their way to the top without shortcuts but by blood sweat and tears. These are the real-life ugly ducklings becoming the beautiful swan stories.

I do not like seeing people fail and give up. I think people are capable of much more than they believe. People can succeed if they remain persistent. Many successful people return to their childhood communities to give others the tools to make them successful.

There are those, however, that forget about their beginnings. They are self-important. They neglect family, old friends, and God because their eyes are on something different now.  Some equate success with money and possession. Others associate it with fame.

[Pro 16:18 ESV] 18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

I just finished watching Big George Foreman on Netflix. George grew up poor. He grew up in a family that believed in God and thanked him for the little that they had. George would eventually make it to the top of the boxing world and become the champion. The things that once mattered to him meant very little now. Sometime later, he loses everything. He returns to fighting after not being in the sport for 10 years. At one point while losing a fight, he realizes that he went “from the penthouse to the pavement.” When he does, he realizes everything important to him was always there, and he delivers the knockout blow to his opponent and regains the championship belt.

[Rom 8:18 ESV] 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Sometimes life knocks us down. Being at the bottom especially when you have been to the top is extremely unsettling. Embarrassment, guilt, and shame may cause us to hide what we are going through. That does not help. We may think that the bottom is what we deserve and choose to quit. Being at the lowest point of your life is an opportunity to bounce back. Leave the past in the past and move forward. See things for what they are and respond positively. Where you are now is nothing compared to what awaits you.

[Pro 4:25 ESV] 25 Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.

We need to keep our eyes open to the things that matter. Money, possessions, and fame do not matter. The people around you matter. The people who love you matter. The God who created you matters. When you understand this and love them the best way you can, you find a new definition of success.

[Jos 1:7 ESV] 7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.

God wants you to be successful in everything you do. If you try to help someone, he wants you to be effective. If you are at work, he wants you to be productive. Whatever you put your hand to do, he wants it to be fruitful. If we quit focusing on ourselves and obey what God tells us to do, success will follow.

 

 

 

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

I just returned from seeing the movie, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. Tom Hanks portrays Fred Rogers from the Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood television show back when I was a child. I used to watch his show every day.

In his television show, Mr. Rogers would teach children how to voice their feelings and how to deal with them on an individual basis. There were a lot of life lessons taught that somehow seem to have been lost over time.

Since I do not know and have never met Fred Rogers, I can only write what I am thinking based on Tom Hanks’ portrayal of the man in the movie. 

The one thing that has always impressed me about Fred Rogers is that what you saw is what he was. Mr. Rogers was not a character that he played. They were the same person. I wish more people would remember who they are. Over time, whether due to circumstances or some other reason, we tend to hide who we are. We begin to wear masks where we protect who we are.

In the movie, he is asked why adults often struggle with understanding their children. His answer was simple. It is because we as adults forget our experiences as a child. We forget where we started and expect our children to behave differently than children should act at their age.

We also do that with others who have gone through similar experiences as we have. We expect them to respond in a way different than we have. They do not have the hindsight that we have after going through it, but we expect them to behave according to our knowledge of the past.

The one major lesson that I think this movie teaches is this; the most critical person in the world is the one to whom you are currently speaking.

We live in a world where there are so many distractions. When someone speaks to us, we do not even divert our eyes from the television or phone. This is a problem in our society and one that I am trying to change in my life.

When you are speaking to someone, do not just listen to their words but understand why they feel and act the way they do. Do not listen to them while trying to figure out your next response. Take a deep breath and pay attention. They may be hurting. They may be sacred. Love them for who they are.  Some people may feel like they are broken. You are not broken.

Some people are looked upon as not worthy of your time. However, every person is essential. Every person has a story. Every person has feelings.

The disciples of Jesus did not always understand why Jesus spoke to certain people. The children (Matthew 19:13-15) or the Samaritan woman (John 4:1-27) were vital in the eyes of Jesus. Unfortunately, his followers did not feel the same way. The disciples were wrong.

Let’s make people feel like they matter. Put down your phones. Quit hiding from them. Be the real you and love the real them.                                                                   

A Life of Bull

Yesterday, I watched the animated movie, Ferdinand. The movie is about a bull named unsurprisingly after the title of the movie.

In this movie, all of the bulls have one goal in mind, to be the greatest fighter so they can go to the arena and defeat the bullfighters. That is, except Ferdinand. He would rather smell the flowers than fight. He is mocked about being different and is constantly reminded by the other bulls that the only thing he should want is to be a great fighter.  

A lot happens and eventually, Ferdinand finds out that no bull ever wins. He tries to warn all of the other bulls that they need to run. Valiente, the toughest and bravest bull of the herd, forces a fight with Ferdinand and has a horn broken off. Because of his broken horn, Valiente ends up at the slaughterhouse. 

When Ferdinand tries to help the stubborn Valiente escape, the following conversation takes place. 

V: Don't you get it? Look at me! I'm already done.

F: Oh, sure. That makes total sense. You're either a fighter or you're meat, right? 

V: That's right. 

F: It doesn't have to be that way. You're more than just a set of horns

You're either a fighter

or you're meat, right?

That's right.

It doesn't

have to be that way.

You're more than just

a set of horns.

 

You're either a fighter

or you're meat, right?

That's right.

It doesn't

have to be that way.

You're more than just

a set of horns.

 

Don't you get it? Look at me!

I'm already done.

Oh, sure.

That makes total sense.

You're either a fighter

or you're meat, right?

That's right.

It doesn't

have to be that way.

You're more than just

a set of horns.

 

Don't you get it? Look at me!

I'm already done.

Oh, sure.

That makes total sense.

You're either a fighter

or you're meat, right?

That's right.

It doesn't

have to be that way.

You're more than just

a set of horns. 

Valiente believed a bull with a broken horn has no destiny other than to fight or become meat because that is what bulls do. His identity was in his horns.

We need to realize that we are not only what we appear to be. Society may tell you what you should be, but only you know who you are. Appearance, ancestry, society, or the location of origin should dictate your destiny. Do not let others tell you what you are. 

People are complicated. They may look tough on the outside but may be very tender-hearted. Appearances can be deceptive. As the saying goes, "Don't judge a book by its cover." There is more than meets the eye. 

Don't get caught in the trap of believing what others think about you. Learn to be you. Some people have trouble being themselves out of fear that they won't be accepted. People often choose to do things that they would naturally not do just because they want to be accepted. Don't accept anything less than being what you are. 

I am a Christian, though others would hardly call me religious. I choose to live the life that God has given me. I do not want to follow others because they seem more spiritual. Neither should you. 

Just be yourself. Do not accept a false destiny because it is what you were taught. Be the real you.  

Are You Willing?

A friend of mine from a different church works with the children at his church. He was putting together an Indiana Jones escape room. He needed some crafty volunteers to help him decorate, specifically to paper mâché a 6-foot boulder although there was more decorating that was required.

I happened to see his request for help on his Facebook page. I happened to be off work that day and replied that I was not crafty, but I was willing to help. So, after a forty-five-minute drive to his church, my wife and I were hands-deep in glue. My wife is a “crafty” person.

The paper mâché boulder took 3 – 4 hours to complete. It was not hard to do, it was just big. I am glad that I went out of my way to help a friend in need. What disappointed me was that no one from his church heeded the request to volunteer. My wife and I were the only volunteers to arrive to do the craft. Had we not helped, his room would not have been completed on time.

He said that the escape room turned out to be a success and the boulder came out great. I joked how being crafty wasn’t needed as much as just being willing. However, this “joke” has been in my thoughts ever since.

My work schedule is weird and does not allow me to volunteer for as many things as I would like. There are a lot of things and people that need assistance. Often, we think to ourselves that we are not skilled enough to do what is required. We have excuses that we are too old, too young, or even that someone else will do it. We may even think we are not good enough to help. The problem is not that we can’t. The main problem is that we are not willing.

It reminds me of the parable of the good Samaritan. A couple of people walked by who were able to help the injured man, but only one was willing to see that he received the help he truly needed. It was just the one man that even bothered to check on the man.

When Jesus called his disciples, he did not check their resumes to see if they could do what would be required. He merely said, “Follow me.” Those he called were willing to follow him.

Prayers are helpful, but workers are needed. You do not have to have a degree to do most of the necessary work. Many things need to be done. While some tasks are complex many more are more easily completed by someone just willing. What we need in this world is more willing people to help.

He told them, "The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest. Luke 10:2 (CSV)

You Think You Know

“You think you know, but you just don’t know, and you never will.”

Jim Mora

The fact that so many people think they know what is happening with others amazes me. No one knows what others are thinking. I hate when watching football, a commentator sees someone on the feel and tells you what he is thinking. For all I know, he may be thinking he wants to eat pizza after the game. I am a person who prefers facts, not assumptions. This doesn’t mean that I never assume anything. I am human. We all do it. That does not make our assumptions right.

The most recent thing in the news is the Supreme Court confirmation hearings amid sexual assault charges.  This has been a circus, to say the least. Everyone has an opinion. Everyone seems to know every detail about what happened in 1982. The only thing I remember about 1982 is I changed schools. I am not talking about the parties involved. I am talking about the rest of the nation.

On one side of the equation is Brett Kavanaugh, the nominee. Nearly every conservative claims this man is squeaky clean and a perfect fit for the Supreme Court. I don’t know if he is or is not. I have never actually met the man, nor have I ever heard of him before his nomination. Claims against him suddenly appear around a possible sexual assault from 1982. His supporters say this is preposterous. Those who oppose him have demonized him. I have no feelings toward him one way or the other.

On the other hand, we have Christine Ford, the accuser. Nearly every liberal claim that she is courageous for coming out with her story and has no political agenda. I do not know if she is telling the truth or not. I have never actually met this woman, nor have I heard of her before her accusations. The timing of her claims may be suspect, but her supporters say her timing is not politically motivated. Those who oppose her said she is lying to push the democratic vote in the mid-term elections and to squash the nomination of a conservative. I have no feelings toward her one way or the other.

The one thing that I do know is no one knows except the two of them. Everyone else seems to be casting judgment based on political leanings.

Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes.

I would like to defend both of them. I am glad that I have not been judged on my actions when I was in high school. When people are young, they make stupid mistakes. I am not saying he did or did not.  Justice in this country is supposed to be innocent until proven guilty. Many people listen to biased news stories and cannot see any possibility that he is not guilty. There are no facts that have been exposed, just opinions. I would like everyone to put themselves in the shoes of people who have been falsely accused. I pray no one does that to you.

On the other side, people claim that there is no reason to keep sexual assault quiet for so many years. As one who experienced sexual assault in 1981, I can say there are many reasons that people do not come forward. In fact, until the writing of this post, I had only mentioned it once to my wife for the first time just a few months ago. I do not talk about it. It does not define me. However, I can understand the people that keep quiet for so many years. Though innocent in the matter, there is shame, grief, disbelief, and even fear. Not talking about it makes it seem like it never happened. For me, I still think about it. I hope that Dr. Ford is lying. I hope she never experienced sexual assault. However, I do not know, and neither do you. I pray that you walk in her shoes if she has. I hope you never experience the trauma that goes along with this type of event.

While both people are involved in this political circus, I hope that the one who is right can forgive the one who has wronged the other. Forgiveness can bring healing, but it is a choice. I chose to forgive.

Ephesians 4:32 ESV Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

A Hot Mess: A Different Perspective

In my last post, A Hot Mess, I explained how making coffee when the top is still on the travel mug is a bad idea. Today, I would like to revisit that same mess that was made but from a different outlook. 

This week, I thought about how that cup represents people today. I have several coffee cups and travel mugs, but I tend to use the same ones most of the time. My favorite travel mug has pictures of my wife and grandkids. My favorite cups to use at home are from Spain and France. While I do not use these exclusively, I use them more than the rest. 

Every morning I drink coffee on the way to work. All of the travel mugs I use have lids, and all hold at least 12 ounces of coffee. More than anything, the cup is a tool used for a fundamental purpose. That is if you believe holding coffee so I can drink it is important. However, coffee mugs do not serve their purpose until there is coffee poured into them. 

We may not realize that we all serve a purpose, but we do. Some of us may not even know what that purpose is yet. Some of us overthink our mission and get frustrated when we don’t come up with a purpose that seems important to us. Your purpose may not be as crucial to you as it is to others.  Some reasons for being here may be to help others, to cause some to laugh or enjoy life, or to make this world a better place.  There are many reasons to live. Like the coffee mug, we just need to be there ready to be put to use. 

Part of being a useful mug is to be empty until it is time to be used. No one wants to pour coffee into a mug that is filled with something else. Can you imagine a mug being filled with oil and then you add coffee to it before drinking? Yuck. That would be a problem.

The same is true of us. Sometimes we are filled and cannot be put to our proper use. We may have allowed ourselves to be filled with things like bitterness, anger, hatred, selfishness, or jealousy. It is hard to be useful when you are already full. 

Now, I would never allow oil to be poured into my coffee mugs. The same is true of my life. I need to make sure I don’t let things into my life that render me useless. I need to fill my life with things that can help me serve my purpose.  Things like love, joy, kindness, goodness, and self-control need to be poured into my life so I can do things like helping others or whatever. 

Everyone seems to take their coffee in different ways. Some people like cream and sugar. Some like it black. Some like it with more milk than coffee. My coffee cup needs to be filled with what will serve my preferred taste. 

I know a successful businessman who once said he would prefer to hire someone off the street with no college education that he could train himself. The college graduates came in with preconceived ideas, thinking they knew everything already and were not open to the ideas that were already working for the company. Those graduates were like cups that were full but did not serve the preferred purpose of the company. 

It is better to be an empty vessel that can be filled with what is useful to this life. 

2 Timothy 2:20-21(CSB)

“Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also those of wood and clay; some for honorable use and some for dishonorable. So if anyone purifies himself from anything dishonorable, he will be a special instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.”

                               

A Hot Mess

Some mornings don’t start in the desired fashion. I am a person who likes routine. I do the same thing the same way every morning on workdays. I have found that if I deviate from that routine, the chance of me forgetting to do something dramatically increases. There was a substantial deviation from my routine yesterday. Fortunately, I did not forget anything. However, it did cost me some extra time before leaving the house.

Part of my routine after leaving my room in the morning is to get my coffee brewing and then start getting dressed in the next room. When I return to the kitchen, I add my creamer to my coffee and continue with the rest of my routine.  This was the place when my routine came apart.

When I walked into the kitchen, I saw brown liquid covering a large portion of my counter next to my coffee maker. My first thought was that the cup was too small for the selected portion. I thought it overflowed. When I removed my travel mug, it was light, as if it was empty. That is because it had no coffee in it, at all.

It did not take long to discover the problem. The top of the travel mug was still on the top of my cup. An unfortunate mistake made a big mess.

There are various ways that people would handle this problem. Some people would blame the cup for having a top in the first place. While this makes no sense to most of us, we probably know someone like this. Some people refuse to admit that they have any responsibility for the problems. I have discovered that I usually have at least some faults in the mess with which I find myself.

Others would cry about the mess, but not do anything.

about the problem. They would even tell friends about their unfortunate situation so they could cry together. There is nothing wrong with crying. It just does not solve anything. After the tears have fallen, you still have a mess. Some people would prefer to cry until someone else cleans the mess for them. Even if someone else does clean your mess, you still have not learned to handle messy situations. We all know that one messy situation will not be the only one we have.

Some will see the mess and pretend it did not happen. This also does not fix the situation. Ignoring a problem does not make it go away. When you return to the scene, it is still there. Most of the time, the issue has become worse because of the neglect.

My choice for yesterday's mess seemed like a no-brainer, though I know many who would have chosen the other options. I cleaned the mess. Paper towels and wet rags were readily available, so I used them. I may not be the best at cleaning, but I must have done a decent job because my wife did not complain about sticky counters.

We should take after Jesus when it comes to fixing problems. When people were hungry, he did not ignore them. He handled the issue and fed over 4 thousand people once and over five thousand another time. He also taught those around him not to wait for others to solve the problem but to deal with it like in the parable of the Good Samaritan. The problem may not be your fault, but if there is a problem, be part of the solution. Don’t just solve the problem, teach others to solve problems.

Everyone has problems. Some problems are more significant than others. Some cannot be handled alone. Get help. Know that you are not alone. Most of all, trust God to get you through.

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them from all their troubles. (Psalm 34:17)

When Did Americans start hating freedom?

When did the people in the United States start hating freedom? I thought this country fought wars so that we could be free. I thought we went to war on behalf of others so they could also be free. Yet, every time someone uses their freedom to do or say what they want, they are quickly opposed to their right to say or do it.

The problem is we want our freedom. We just do not want those with whom we disagree to have it. Addidas, Ben & Jerry’s, Chick-fil-A, The NFL, and Nike have all been part of “boycotts” in the last few years because people do not like them exercising their freedoms. Now, you have the right to boycott. I’m not taking that away from you. I just hope your liberty to express yourself is not taken away.

We seem to be self-righteous. Our way is not only better than your way. It should be the only way. It is the best way. We may not say those words, but our actions scream them.

We call others weak because they are offended. We tell others to toughen up and get over themselves. Yet, we get angry when others express a different opinion. When people say we get offended, we deny it because that places the blame on us. We say, “I’m not offended, I am just standing up for what is right.”

An offense is defined as annoyance or resentment brought about by a perceived insult to or disregard for oneself or one's standards or principles. That sums up almost everyone I have ever spoken to who says they are not offended.

I do not agree with many things people say or do. I have chosen not to boycott or break ties with them. Last time I checked, the Bible speaks many times about unity, forgiveness, and love. Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. (1 Peter 3:8) How does separating ourselves from people or even companies with whom we disagree display any of those principles? Separation does not show unity. Continually criticizing others does not demonstrate forgiveness. Hoping a person is fired and never works again does not display love.

II have a Christian friend of mine who had a Muslim open a business near his church. Most people could see that there is a different perception in the way these two men would think. My friend did not have his congregation boycott the business for his beliefs. He went to the man and asked if he could pray for the man’s business to be successful.

That is how we should be. I do not have to agree with everything you believe, but I should hope and pray for your success, not your ideas, but your business and your well-being. We should desire and pray for the best to happen to people. I think many of us believe that God cares more for values rather than people, but Jesus died for the people. He told them not to sin anymore, but he gave his life because he loved the people.

Yes, I am an American, but primarily, I am a follower of Christ. I believe in unity. I think that Christians should be in full accord and of one mind. (Philippians 2:2)

However, not all Americans are Christians. That is their prerogative. We do not have to be of one mind with everyone else. Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. (Luke 11:17). I do not want the church to fall, but I also do not want the United States to collapse. We need to put aside our differences and pray for each other to succeed. 

Not Broken

Sometime back, our coffee maker quit working. This was not a good thing. My wife and I are coffee drinkers. We start our mornings with coffee. We sometimes end our days with coffee, and on occasion, it is how we make it through the day. When the piece of equipment that gives us our coffee goes down, we go into emergency mode.

I am thankful for the internet and YouTube. You can find out how to fix almost anything on here. That information was a lot harder to find when I was growing up in the '70s and '80s. We followed the steps the video demonstrated, and we were able to get the morning coffee. The repair did not last, and we bought an entirely different coffee maker.

People say things are not made the way they used to be. That is mostly true. Things seem to be made cheaper to replace but cost more to repair. It seemed to be that things were built to last back in the day, but when they broke, they could be fixed more efficiently and cost-effectively.

There is one thing that has never changed. You cannot fix what is not broken. We can destroy it. We can try to improve it. However, if it is not broken, you cannot repair it.

I have seen companies pay big money for computer programs and then try to change it to do something else. This often causes the program to go down costing many man-hours to repair it. It seems to me that you would buy customized software to do what you want. Trying to fix what is not broken is costly.

People are the same way. We see people that are different than us. They may be in better shape, have a better sense of humor, and be more financially sound. The possibilities are endless of what others are that we may want to replicate. We have seen people try to change who they are. They think there is something wrong with them. Trying to transform into something they are not can lead to many other problems including depression or self-loathing.

Quit trying to fix what is not broken. You are not defective. You are you. You were not created to be anyone else but you. That does not mean that you cannot be the best you that you can be, but don’t try to be an imitation of someone else.

You need to love yourself. You are worth loving. There are enough people in this world who won’t love you for you, but their opinion of you does not matter. What matters is God loves you, and if you are good enough for Him to love, then that should settle it. You are loveable.

God does not just love you, but he likes you. He was willing to lose his only son because of his love for you. God wants to spend time with you because He likes you. He likes when we talk to Him telling him how we feel and how our day is going. He wants to go with us to help us through the fires of life.

You are not broken. You just need to do you. God created you how He wanted you. If things that work for everyone else doesn’t seem to work for you, try it a different way that works only for you.

People can only be fixed if they are broken. You are not broken.

Blinded

I can’t imagine being born blind. I can barely get around my house without tripping on something that is always there now. When driving through Ruston, Louisiana, I noticed people with their eyes covered walking around with sight sticks. I later found out that Ruston was the home of the Louisiana Center for the Blind. The center teaches students the tools necessary to live life independently.  Finishing the program requires students to dropped off at a random location where they must find their way back.

My trip to Ruston was years ago, but I recalled this while reading a novel whose main character was born blind. She used echolocation to get around. Echolocation is the “ability of humans to detect objects in their environment by sensing echoes from those objects, by actively creating sounds.” The protagonist in the novel I am reading used clicking sounds from her mouth to “see.”

Throughout our lives, we will encounter many who are blind, though most of them can see. Their eyes may physically work, but they are blind in other areas. Jeremiah 5:21 says, “Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear.” This verse tells me that God wanted them to know something, but they chose not to hear it for some reason.

There are a variety of reasons that people do not see. Ignorance is one of those reasons. Ignorance is not stupidity. It is merely a lack of knowledge. If you saw a cow for the first time, you would not know what it is unless someone tells you it is a cow. The same is true of other things. If you have never been taught a truth, how can you know it? I have experienced people training me on the job that did not want to explain something because they preferred to be the only one with that knowledge. They thought it made them more valuable to the company. When the time came for me to use that knowledge, I could not. I was blind to that truth.

One truth that I learned over the years is God loves us all. Sometimes, we are

ignorant of that truth. If we do not demonstrate God’s love to others, then how can they know. Treat people the way God loves and tell them about the God of love. Knowing the truth can change their lives. John 8:31-32 states, “So He said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, you are truly My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” You cannot be set free if you do not know the truth.

Image source: Seasons of Life Ministries.

Sometimes we do not see the truth in our lives because we are too busy looking at the problem in everyone else’s lives. We choose to look at the negative in people without understanding what we need to correct ourselves. Often the thing that aggravates us about someone is the same trait that we have. We just don’t see it. We complain about others being close-minded, but we don’t listen to their point of view. Matthew 7:3 says, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?”

Some people can become blind after being able to see at first. Something changed to make them blind. Often, we do not know the truth because we have experienced something that distracts us from that truth. It is hard to believe that the Father loves you if you were abused by your parents. The abuse does not change the fact that he loves you. The experience blinds us to it. God did not want you to suffer. Sin brought into this world brought the suffering. We want free will but blame God when someone uses the free will to hurt us. Often these experiences lead us to blindness caused by resentment. Matthew 11:28-29 says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” If we seek the Lord Jesus, he will reveal the truth and open your eyes to the reality that will bring you peace.

While many have learned to live with blindness, there is a better way. Quit holding on to things that hide the truth. See the truth. Do not choose to remain blind.

       

Blessed are your eyes because they do see, and your ears because they do hear. (Matthew 13:16)