2020, The Year for Perfect Vision

I was working on my doctorate doing much more study and reading than normal when I noticed the words were more blurred than normal.  I tried the universal method to improve one’s vision, squinting, and still the words on the page were not clear.  My eye doctor told me that when most men reach their mid-forties, my age at that time; their eyes need more time to focus.  I told him, “I can’t wait that long I need to read this stuff before sundown and it ain’t happening.”  Forgive the grammar but remember I had not completed my doctoral work at the time. He suggested cheap reading glasses initially because I was “still in the 20/20 range.”  Being in the range for 20/20 vision is never as good and having perfect 20/20 vision.  It’s important to see clearly but clear Spiritual vision is more essential.  Spiritual vision guides your life now and eternally.  I use a capital S as I refer to vision led by the Holy Spirit rather than any other spirit, feeling or intuition.

Proverbs 29:18; “Where there is no vision, the people perish” is often quoted, and also misinterpreted, by those seeking to promote personal plans and agenda.  The verse is not about a big idea from an individual.  The “vision” in this verse refers to a divine communication, a revelation from God.  “Perish” comes from the Hebrew word, paw-rah', the word used where a woman's hair was let to flow out of its covering (hairband).  Unconstrained in the wind her hair is out of control and blown in all directions.  The proverb is asserting the truth that without a divine communication (revelation from God), a person’s life can be influenced to go in all sorts of directions.  The results may not always be positive.

Correcting and restoring 20/20 vision can be done with corrective lenses.  I am using them as I write this.  Gaining and maintaining perfect Spiritual vision is a different matter.  Writing and reading without my corrective lenses can be embarrassing.  I make many grammatical mistakes and typos when writing without my glasses.  My spelling mistakes, however, come from being creative.  I have always relied on the fact that “anyone who spells the same word the same way all the time has no imagination!”  However, faulty vision not funny and can be dangerous.  I wonder why directions on medicine bottles use such tiny print.  It seems smaller as I age.  Does it say to take 1 every 4 hours or 4 every 8 hours?

Incorrect Spiritual decision can be even more dangerous.  Your quality of life now and for eternity depends on clearly seeing and following God’s vision for your life.  Living without a clear vision can lead to a life ‘like a woman’s hair unconstrained directionless and blown in all directions’.  A good friend recently told me that she was utilizing the year 2020 to seek a clear vision concerning what God wanted for her at this time in her life.  She smiled and said, “2020 is the year for perfect vision!”  I thought, “What a great way to look at the year 2020, not just as a new calendar year but as a time to seek a clear 20/20 Spiritual vision from God!”

There have been times in my life when God seemed to be directing me as clearly as the GPS map on my phone.  Then there are times when I go off in the wrong direction not paying attention to the voice and map on my phone.  I wondered why so many people in Niagara Falls Park were staring at me with dirty looks as I was driving the only car on the bridge until I saw the Pedestrians Only sign.  In my excitement I had ignored the correct guidance of my GPS and had driven my car onto the walking path.   Oops!

It is easy to become distracted and not pay attention to God’s voice or directions.  Life is more like traveling by airplane than a journey by train.  Once you board the train you simply sit back and enjoy the trip as the train follows the tracks to the next destination.  Traveling by airplane is different.  After the airplane takes off several things can affect the original flight plan.  A storm or other unexpected events can require adjustments leading to an alternate time of arrival or even a different destination.  Life’s journey is similar.  A plan is valuable but what’s happening right now will affect when, where, how or if I arrive.  Daily vision and adjustments are as important as long-range vision.  Both should come from God.

So how does one seek perfect Spiritual vision, divine communication?  King Solomon asked God for an “understanding heart” to make good judgments and discern between right and wrong (1 Kings 3:9).  Jesus also spoke of the importance of the heart for Spiritual vision in the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount proclaiming, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” (Matthew 5:8).  God’s Spiritual anatomy connects the eyes with the heart.  A heart harboring anger, envy, lust, greed, selfishness, etc. will lead to a direction far from God’s perfect vision for one’s life.  A good prescription for 20/20 Spiritual vision is found in Galatians 5:22 &23 known as the Fruit of the Spirit.  Fruit is the natural growth from a healthy plant.  A healthy and pure Spiritual heart is filled with thoughts that are loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled.  I John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”  So a pure heart that is essential to ‘see’ God’s perfect vision for our lives begins with an honest examination confessing anything that does not naturally follow and develop Spiritual fruit.

Going back to the conversation with my eye doctor in my mid-forties, I followed his advice and got reading glasses and finished the work so I AM a Doctor!  Therefore, I offer the following prescription to make 2020 our year of perfect Spiritual vision; start today and continue daily with a healthy and honest Spiritual self-examination.  Submit to a daily visit with the Great Physician following His prescription found in Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”  As we daily confess, repent and receive His cleansing to have a pure heart we will be amazed how our Spiritual vision improves allowing us to more clearly see His perfect vision for our lives.  I look forward to seeing what He has in store for 2020, The Year for Perfect Vision!

Neal

Forty years ago I met Neal.  I often think of him.  It is good that I do so.  He taught me some valuable lessons.  Neal showed me how to have a positive attitude no matter what the situation may be.  The lesson is backed by Paul’s declaration in Philippians 4:11-13; “I am not complaining about having too little. I have learned to be satisfied with whatever I have.  I know what it is to be poor or to have plenty, and I have lived under all kinds of conditions. I know what it means to be full or to be hungry, to have too much or too little. Christ gives me the strength to face anything.”  It is appropriate that I have a scriptural foundation to this story because I met Neal at seminary as we were both working on our Masters of Divinity degrees.  We graduated together but he was smarter and much wiser.  I always knew study at the Masters level would be challenging.  I was not a good student when I entered the seminary.  In 1974 I graduated dead last in the school of business at Mississippi State University, but that is another story.  I really majored in having fun in college…but that’s also another story. 

I knew seminary would be difficult for me, as I had to learn to study and take things more seriously.  However, when I met Neal I realized that my challenge was not that big of a deal.  Just getting around and having a conversation was a challenge for Neal.  Due to problems at birth Neal’s brain had difficulty getting the proper signals to allow his body to function in a fashion that is effortless and unconsciously normal for us.  His legs did not work but he didn't use a wheel chair.  He walked but not like the rest of us.  Since his brain could not tell one leg to step forward and then the other, as happens naturally with us, he had crutches fastened to his arms, so to get around he would sling one crutch forward and then drag his legs forward then he would repeat the process with the other arm continuing to drag his legs along.  He had steel toes in his shoes because they constantly dragged the ground.  But he ‘walked’ to class with the rest of us.  Neal taught me a special courage to keep from giving in to the ‘difficulties’ and unfairness of life’s circumstances. 

As we walked to class and gathered in groups after class we talked of many things…since we were all single guys the subject of girls often was worked into the conversation.  Neal’s speech was also affected by his birth defect.  There was nothing wrong with his intelligence, his was much smarter than most of us…especially me.  However, the words came out of his contorted mouth slowly and slurred.  One day as we were going across campus with our normal conversation, yes about girls and dating, Neal started laughing and proclaimed that he felt sorry for us.  We stopped and while no one said anything we were probably all thinking the same thing; "Here is this guy who has trouble walking and talking and he feels sorry for us!" 

Neal didn’t keep us in suspense about the reason for his pity on us as he grinned with his twisted smile and explained; “When I get married I am going to know beyond all doubt that she truly loves me for who I am and not for the way I look or act.  I will know true love while you may wonder if she will find some more handsome or with more money.”  We joined him in laughter but we also knew we were standing in the presence of someone special.  Neal knew Paul’s secret to being content no matter what the circumstances may be.  Contentment is not found in physical appearance, abilities or circumstance in life.  Contentment is found in knowing who God sees when he looks through us and knowing He loves who he sees through our faith in Christ!  Neal taught us that who we really are is reflected more from the heart than the mirror. 

As my life has been affected by the many years and events that have passed, I am increasingly slower in getting up from chairs and getting around.  I ache in places I never knew existed in my youth.  I also have times of sadness as I remember loved ones who are now gone.  However, rather than having a lengthy pity party I think of Neal, the Apostle Paul and Jesus as I remember that I can always find contentment no matter what my circumstances may be.  Physical appearances and abilities will change.  Relationships will come and go.  Integrity, humility, love, compassion and a pure heart can last for eternity and make all else seem frivolous.  What is seen from my heart is far more important than what I see in the mirror. 

I don’t think I will ever forget graduation from seminary.  Neal was ahead of me in the line, which was appropriate for many reasons.  He managed his way up the stairs with the crutches attached to his arms and his feet dragging behind.  As he stood on the stage and heard his named called the excitement overcame him and he shouted and raised his right crutch in the air.  He immediately fell with a thud.  A hush fell on the audience but when we realized he was not hurt no one moved.  We all seemed to know that this was Neal’s moment.  In spite of being severely physically hindered in mobility and speech Neal had accomplished a level of achievement attained by few able-bodied people.  He needed to walk these final steps on his own.  I remember sensing the collective energy of the entire auditorium as we all sought to ‘will’ him up from the floor.  Neal struggled to his feet and slung one crutch ahead of the other with his feet dragging behind making those final steps on his own.  Without a doubt Neal had the night’s greatest ovation as the seminary president shook his hand and presented him his Masters degree. 

As stated at the beginning of this story, it is good for me to think of Neal.  I confess that I can be too superficial at times.  We all know what it is like to spend too much time looking in the mirror worrying about that hairline that seems to be receding overnight, the gray that is increasing in the hair that remains, those wrinkles we didn’t notice yesterday, the midsection that is gradually increasing…I could go on but I think you get the picture.  Physical abilities and the way we look will always change, sometimes not the way we desire.  However, as I learned long ago from Neal (and Jesus), what is seen in our heart is far more important than what is seen in the mirror!