As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. – John 9: 1-3
Today’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 25-27: John 9:1-23
Dear Jesus,
First of all I want to say thank you for giving me my vison. The mud thing was pretty dramatic… but yeah man… thanks a lot.
Now… I don’t mean to sound ungrateful… but you said that I was blind so that the work of God might be displayed in my life. That doesn’t make sense to me. Ok yes what you did was super impressive but man, I went through my whole childhood blind as a bat! I’ve had to beg for money my entire adult life because I had no means or wherewithal to provide a living for myself.
The “why” that you gave your disciples I’m sure works for them. But to keep it real with you, it doesn’t work for me. This is MY life that you are talking about here! Where were you all these years when I was starving, ridiculed, ashamed, vulnerable, and taken advantage of? Where were you huh?
Sigh…
Ok… I just had to get that off my chest. But you gotta understand me here. It just doesn’t make any sense. Why would I have to suffer all of the hardship that I suffered so that your followers could learn a lesson? It just doesn’t seem fair.
Please help me understand.
Sincerely,
Your thankful servant.
My son,
I am sorry that you feel the way that you do and I will do my best to help you understand; but first I must ask you a few questions.
What is fair? How do you judge what is and what is not fair? Are your struggles yours alone? How did you make it all of these years? Were you loved?
I am love and I work through love. I never left you and I will always be with you. How did you feel when you received the caring touch from your mother or could hear the warm smile in the heart of your father when he spoke of you? Who was it that provided alms for you when you were hungry? Who looked out for you when you could not look out for yourself? Who guided your steps when you could not see the stumbling blocks in your path? Who reached down to help you when you fell?
It was I this whole time for I am love. When people act in love they are connected with the divine. It is hard for many people to learn to love because they only see what they want to see. So I sent them one who could not see to show them what they have been unable to see.
Through your blindness you taught the world to love; not only those who raised you, who knew you, and who saw you, but also all of those who will come after you for millennia. The fact that you grew up and lived to the age that you were when I encountered you is a testimony of the love that humanity is capable of.
It is only through love that a blind child can grow to be a man.
So I am sorry son for the sacrifice that you feel you have made but know that you are one of the great teachers of the ages. The greatest teachers are those who teach others how to love.
And you my friend succeeded at that; greatly.
Sincerely,
J.
It's like in love.
ReplyDeleteA friend could have a great guy or girl that they're with. But the friend is unable to see it. Others can.
At the time, our friend is not really open to seeing the beauty of what they have. They can only see that which does not line up with what they feel they "want" at that time. So eventually the great guy/girl leaves our friend. Once our friend is alone, they realize what they had and want it back.
Us seeing this occurrence are enlightened. So we, in an effort not to loose out like our friend did, appreciate the great people in our lives. Because our friend's experience has shown us that great people not appreciated can and will leave our lives, no matter how great we think we are.
In scenarios like these, a key thing to remember is no matter where we stand there is a lesson to be learned on either side. Cuz, at some point we will all be made "the example."
Alegria... That's a very interesting take on it. I like that... kinda speechless actually. Thanks as always for sharing!
ReplyDeleteWell, most of us are "lucky?" not to have been blind. But I am sure at some point we all have asked God "why did this happen" to me about something i.e., Why was my car hit? Why did I loose my job. Why is my child sick? Why did it take so long for me to see what I had?
ReplyDeleteHopefully, every time we ask God "why did this happen to me", in our process of learning that sometimes "that's just how it goes" those around us will see the lesson and possibly help us see it too.
exactly!
ReplyDeleteAs a father, all I want for my children is their happiness. My father in heaven gives me at evey instant what I need for my greatest happiness and removes all barriers. He knows that while many things are fun, true happiness is the result of spiritual growth. If what I need is the loss of my family and friends and house and car and career and health and legs and to end up sleeping under a bridge, I am sure God will grant me that. and if what I need is great wealth, He will grant me that. Of course, these gifts are of no benefit to me if I misuse them. But the dignity of my own journey is a trust that God has in me (frequently, in my weak state, misused). My faith tells me that the entire experience was, for the blind man as well as the disciples, an oportunity to grow spiritually. We pray that we and others can work out our salvation with the particular gifts that we have been divinely granted.
ReplyDeleteGL-who said late comers don't truly add to the party! Your comment was like "ya favorite classic" you can always boogie too.
ReplyDelete_________________________
Allowing spiritual growth to occur can sometimes be difficult. It requires honesty about one's own thoughts and actions that we aren't always willing to face.
As you stated if we trust in God and allow the gift of growth into our spirit, God will provide all that we need to foster that growth.
Very good and timely reminder!
@George I learned a lot of what you said when I was reading Job over the summer. So many things were in flux for me but I realized that many of those challenges were used by God to help me grow into the man that he wants me to be.
ReplyDeletethank you for that reminder.
@Alegria
GL has HEAT rocks! Check out some of his other recent comments.