Better vision

I have trouble with my vision.  I don’t see as well as I once did and certainly not as well as I’d like.  So, in the hope that (at worst) I can maintain what I have and (at best) make some improvement I make frequent visits to an eye specialist, an ophthalmologist.  

I read lines of letters projected on charts. I stare at a yellow lit bulb while recording random blips of light generated by a sophisticated computer. I open my eyes as wide as I can for pictures and pressure tests.  My eyes burn briefly as the tech drops solution into each eye.  While waiting for the arrival of the doc I read tracts about conditions and diseases of the eye.  Then after hearing three gentle knocks on the door, my doc enters the room.  After a brief greeting and some small talk he sits at his computer reviewing the data.  Using a prism and a blue light he checks each eye.  He smiles.  “You are doing well.  Keep doing what you are doing. See you in six months.”  He renews a prescription, gives me a thumbs up and is gone.   I stop by the front desk to cover my co-pay.  I put on dark glasses and with eyes still dilated, stagger to my car under a sun that appears much brighter than when I arrived an hour earlier.  I complete the new prescription with my provider and continue to do what the doctor says to do.

Frequent visits with Dr. D. and his staff help me maintain healthy eyes and good vision. 

Spiritual health requires attention as well and a qualified specialist.

The consultant?  Jesus.  The tools?  Conversation with faithful friends, prayer, silence, walks while naming things for which and people for whom I am grateful, and time spent with Jesus’ parables of the Kingdom.  Each practice helps me “see” the creation and its creatures a little more like Jesus might see them.  They bring into focus those places where I can work for justice and do acts of kindness in a spirit of humility.

In addition to these tools I have collected one more for use in the months ahead. It’s really a list of words, words to help me notice people and things that I would otherwise overlook.   You might find the list helpful as well as you work at sharpening your spiritual acuity.   

Topic	Date	Reflection
conversations
insights
jokes
photos
disturbing
tastes
surprises
sights
experiences
sounds
spiritual moments
smells
thought provoking
stories
places
meals
observations
prayers
people
music
questions
dreams
walks/hikes

When I return from sabbatical we can compare lists and share our discoveries.  What did you see? What did you notice?  What captured your heart?  To what did you attend?