Thank you for helping me understand my anxiety about the outcome of the elections. I never thought about relating that anxiety to the blind beger's story, but it makes so much sense! My anxiety about being blind about what will happen next and then after "the next" strongly relates to my need to grab my glasses as soon as I get up- I want to see clearly and when I can't I get anxious. In the coming says, I hope I will be able to "throw off my cloak" and feel Jesus' presence. In that presence I will know, without seeing, that love will win. Please pray for all of us who ar working the polls on Tuesday. We have been prepared for events that have never happened before. It's a little scarey this time.
Thank you, Diana, for your lovely interpretation. I always loved the story. And I often applied it to my own spiritual blindness. The longing to see again and to be seen, to have an epiphany that opens my heart and my eyes. The longing to be healed deep within.
In today's political climate it feels more urgent than ever that Christ needs to open the eyes of many. They see but do not see, they hear but do not hear. It seems so obvious to some, and still many seem to be blind for the truth right in front of us.
How dearly do we need the fiery power of the living word to open eyes, to heal souls and to awaken our spirit to renewed hope and joy.
I am reminded once again, as in so many encounters with Jesus, the person seeking something cannot remain a recipient only - but must first take action. The blind person calls out for healing and Jesus asks the disciples to call him forward. The blind beggar must take the first step and move toward that person who is the source of healing and strength for them - sight was restored - and the man “followed” him. We cannot sit back - we too must take steps toward that which is life and love.
And what would I ask Jesus to do for me? Right now? Sit with me, tell me stories, eat with me, just “be” - my mother used to sing “I come to the garden alone” - and I hear those words “he walked with me and he talked with me” - may I be open to that presence in this tumultuous time as a reminder to sometimes sit still and hear the wisdom of the ages.
I am a Canadian and my heart pours out love for my American neighbours as you live daily with such huge uncertainties in your future.
I think of Bartimaeus as a man who has no way to assure his survival through his own efforts. He asks first for mercy; he wants to see. Jesus gives him sight as a mercy, and one thinks that along with the restoration of sight will come a new way of seeing for the stricken man. But push the message a little farther, and we find what is at least the possibility of Bartimaeus being moved by the mercy he’s received and growing more merciful himself as he learns to see.
I have my own fear of loss of sight. It’s still good now, at 75 years of age. But each year my tests show a growing presence of macular degeneration. My father lost virtually all his sight to that disorder before he died. It was sad watching home trying to tune in Andy Griffith, his eyes only functioning at the very edges of his sight, or what remained of it. The treatments are better now. And I have to let go of any fears, knowing the chances are favorable to my own loss of sight. But I’ve had a long life, am still very healthy. What is coming will come.
A story for you. First the background. I have very poor peripheral vision and it takes a certain amount of focus for me to see what’s around me. I am particularly known for bumping into things and knocking things around if I’m not looking directly at them. I have joked with my spouse often about he is so much more merciful than my mother was. He doesn’t yell at me or ask me why I can’t be more careful. I told him I was grateful and that I would like to be able to see if I could.
I was reading your Sunday Musings while sitting at the kitchen counter eating my lunch. My drink is a cocktail of beet juice and pomegranate juice and some other minerals and probiotics, etc. I was just reading the moment when the blind man asks for mercy, but when queried by Jesus what he really wants, blurts out, I want to be able to see!
At that moment, I reached for my glass without taking my eyes off your writing and… Knocked it over. Beet juice stains very well. My forbearing spouse came over and began cleaning up and suddenly I was in the middle of the story.
I really would like to be able to see better. And the answer came to me… You can. Just practice looking directly at what you want.
It is the ones who claim they can see who are truly blind. I postulate that our cries for mercy that come from faith and trust give an opening for our Divine creator to continue performing miracles throughout time. We each have one little tiny perspective, not much sight actually.
We know in our hearts what we want. But we don’t know, if we boldly ask God/Jesus for what we want, if God will respond by ignoring us, by kicking us to the curb, by telling us we don’t know what we want, or by granting our request, perhaps not in the superficial way that we phrased that request, but in a deeper way that is of deep, though unseen, benefit to more people than just us. We win when we think we lose. So maybe our cry should be for mercy for all of us, no matter our viewpoint, that we can ALL see again. That we see our space, not just as a jumble of form and color, but as a distinct and detailed picture—a picture that we have the ability to alter to make it better. Better, even in circumstances that we feel have ruined the picture forever. Better, one brush stroke at a time.
Hope, grounded in the cross, is the antidote for the fear and anxiety sown by the enemy to intimidate us into inaction. Take courage that we are not alone, that we have the Spirit, we have grace, we have "friends in the city" if in the dark we ask and listen and respond from our hearts.
What would I ask of Jesus in this time ? Help me do meaningful self care as I continue to be available to people to help and learn. Knowing when to say yes-- I can be of use here or no it is beyond my ability to be active but I will pray . And I often don't say I'll pray I just do it, unless someone asks me to pray. Adding personal prayers to the stars adds to the choir! Four words I try to live by: Compassion--Freedom--Courage--Gratitude . Thank you again for your perspective.
The message I needed this morning. Had to forego church service today in order to share presence with a friend -- so your sermon serves.
A perfectly ghastly Christian nationalist hymn comes to mind these days. I think it comforted my mother as she listened on the radio to the fall of France and then to bulletins from D-Day. "... grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the facing of this hour ..." There's a confidence in national righteousness there which I can't share. But nonetheless, those seem appropriate petitions.
Diane, this definitely is how I'm feeling. Blind, even though I volunteer at my local Democratic office I still feel blind. I've stopped watching the news because it's bad and I feel it. I'm outraged ... how low part of this country has gone. I'm soooo thankful for The Cottage.
Thank you for helping me understand my anxiety about the outcome of the elections. I never thought about relating that anxiety to the blind beger's story, but it makes so much sense! My anxiety about being blind about what will happen next and then after "the next" strongly relates to my need to grab my glasses as soon as I get up- I want to see clearly and when I can't I get anxious. In the coming says, I hope I will be able to "throw off my cloak" and feel Jesus' presence. In that presence I will know, without seeing, that love will win. Please pray for all of us who ar working the polls on Tuesday. We have been prepared for events that have never happened before. It's a little scarey this time.
Blessings and Peace
Thank you, Diana, for your lovely interpretation. I always loved the story. And I often applied it to my own spiritual blindness. The longing to see again and to be seen, to have an epiphany that opens my heart and my eyes. The longing to be healed deep within.
In today's political climate it feels more urgent than ever that Christ needs to open the eyes of many. They see but do not see, they hear but do not hear. It seems so obvious to some, and still many seem to be blind for the truth right in front of us.
How dearly do we need the fiery power of the living word to open eyes, to heal souls and to awaken our spirit to renewed hope and joy.
Blessings always.
A.
Thank you!!!! I so needed to hear your words today!
I am reminded once again, as in so many encounters with Jesus, the person seeking something cannot remain a recipient only - but must first take action. The blind person calls out for healing and Jesus asks the disciples to call him forward. The blind beggar must take the first step and move toward that person who is the source of healing and strength for them - sight was restored - and the man “followed” him. We cannot sit back - we too must take steps toward that which is life and love.
And what would I ask Jesus to do for me? Right now? Sit with me, tell me stories, eat with me, just “be” - my mother used to sing “I come to the garden alone” - and I hear those words “he walked with me and he talked with me” - may I be open to that presence in this tumultuous time as a reminder to sometimes sit still and hear the wisdom of the ages.
I am a Canadian and my heart pours out love for my American neighbours as you live daily with such huge uncertainties in your future.
I think of Bartimaeus as a man who has no way to assure his survival through his own efforts. He asks first for mercy; he wants to see. Jesus gives him sight as a mercy, and one thinks that along with the restoration of sight will come a new way of seeing for the stricken man. But push the message a little farther, and we find what is at least the possibility of Bartimaeus being moved by the mercy he’s received and growing more merciful himself as he learns to see.
I have my own fear of loss of sight. It’s still good now, at 75 years of age. But each year my tests show a growing presence of macular degeneration. My father lost virtually all his sight to that disorder before he died. It was sad watching home trying to tune in Andy Griffith, his eyes only functioning at the very edges of his sight, or what remained of it. The treatments are better now. And I have to let go of any fears, knowing the chances are favorable to my own loss of sight. But I’ve had a long life, am still very healthy. What is coming will come.
Right on sister!! Thank you!!
I was in Eastern Oregon last week, heavily pro-Trump and saw this billboard in a lawn “Harris Walz 2024: Country over Party”. This gave me hope!
A story for you. First the background. I have very poor peripheral vision and it takes a certain amount of focus for me to see what’s around me. I am particularly known for bumping into things and knocking things around if I’m not looking directly at them. I have joked with my spouse often about he is so much more merciful than my mother was. He doesn’t yell at me or ask me why I can’t be more careful. I told him I was grateful and that I would like to be able to see if I could.
I was reading your Sunday Musings while sitting at the kitchen counter eating my lunch. My drink is a cocktail of beet juice and pomegranate juice and some other minerals and probiotics, etc. I was just reading the moment when the blind man asks for mercy, but when queried by Jesus what he really wants, blurts out, I want to be able to see!
At that moment, I reached for my glass without taking my eyes off your writing and… Knocked it over. Beet juice stains very well. My forbearing spouse came over and began cleaning up and suddenly I was in the middle of the story.
I really would like to be able to see better. And the answer came to me… You can. Just practice looking directly at what you want.
Thank you, Diana.
It is the ones who claim they can see who are truly blind. I postulate that our cries for mercy that come from faith and trust give an opening for our Divine creator to continue performing miracles throughout time. We each have one little tiny perspective, not much sight actually.
This is such a helpful way to reframe our (my) fears about the future Diana. Thank you.
We know in our hearts what we want. But we don’t know, if we boldly ask God/Jesus for what we want, if God will respond by ignoring us, by kicking us to the curb, by telling us we don’t know what we want, or by granting our request, perhaps not in the superficial way that we phrased that request, but in a deeper way that is of deep, though unseen, benefit to more people than just us. We win when we think we lose. So maybe our cry should be for mercy for all of us, no matter our viewpoint, that we can ALL see again. That we see our space, not just as a jumble of form and color, but as a distinct and detailed picture—a picture that we have the ability to alter to make it better. Better, even in circumstances that we feel have ruined the picture forever. Better, one brush stroke at a time.
Hope, grounded in the cross, is the antidote for the fear and anxiety sown by the enemy to intimidate us into inaction. Take courage that we are not alone, that we have the Spirit, we have grace, we have "friends in the city" if in the dark we ask and listen and respond from our hearts.
What would I ask of Jesus in this time ? Help me do meaningful self care as I continue to be available to people to help and learn. Knowing when to say yes-- I can be of use here or no it is beyond my ability to be active but I will pray . And I often don't say I'll pray I just do it, unless someone asks me to pray. Adding personal prayers to the stars adds to the choir! Four words I try to live by: Compassion--Freedom--Courage--Gratitude . Thank you again for your perspective.
Diana I needed these words.
The message I needed this morning. Had to forego church service today in order to share presence with a friend -- so your sermon serves.
A perfectly ghastly Christian nationalist hymn comes to mind these days. I think it comforted my mother as she listened on the radio to the fall of France and then to bulletins from D-Day. "... grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the facing of this hour ..." There's a confidence in national righteousness there which I can't share. But nonetheless, those seem appropriate petitions.
Diane, this definitely is how I'm feeling. Blind, even though I volunteer at my local Democratic office I still feel blind. I've stopped watching the news because it's bad and I feel it. I'm outraged ... how low part of this country has gone. I'm soooo thankful for The Cottage.