Over the past several weeks, I have been plagued by a lower, right back ache. It turned very painful during the last two weeks or so. It has also been accompanied, on and off, with abdominal pains. Thankfully, my appendix was removed almost twelve years ago. I have been poked and prodded and drained of blood various times this last week, and the doctor wants me to have a CAT scan as well. I worked from home Thursday and Friday. And I look like a cripple whenever I try to stand up.
Why am I relating this “who cares if you were sick” experience? And how does it relate to the title of this post?
When I get sick or in pain enough to keep me “down and out” for a while, I end up having time to think, to clear the junk from my mind and life’s eye that accumulates so rapidly in this fast old world. This was one of those times.
Last Sunday, during all this pain, I gave a Sunday school lesson in Gospel Doctrine class that was titled “I was blind, now I see”, which related one of the incidents of Christ healing a blind man (see John chapter 9). We discussed the answer that this blind man gave to the allegedly intelligent (full of light or knowledge) Pharisees when they questioned him about the worthiness of the One who had healed him:
“Whether he [Christ] be a sinner or no, I know not; one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.”
How simple, yet how profound a statement! To the inquiries and criticisms the beggar received from these men (who were suppose to be keepers of the light, but were blind themselves to all things Spiritual) the uneducated, once-blind man gave the perfect answer, “…one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.”
Three of my children -- my daughter, her younger brother, and his wife -- sang a few verses of Amazing Grace which contain the words of this blind man:
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.
T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
the hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares
we have already come.
T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far
and Grace will lead us home.
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.
T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
the hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares
we have already come.
T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far
and Grace will lead us home.
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.
Was blind, but now, I see.
Having time to lie down and reflect on my course in this life helped me yet again to realize just how many times I have been blind in this life, spiritually or emotionally, and how the Lord opened my eyes to see. And what did I see? I saw the beauty of our Heavenly Father’s workmanship through His Son all around me. I saw again the kindness and beauty of my loving wife and companion. I saw the wonderful children and grandchildren that surround me. I saw again how fortunate we have been in having our needs met, in being as healthy and well as we are, in being free from the violence and evil that pervades our surroundings. I saw again the blessings of the Gospel and the Lord in our lives.
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.
Was blind, but now, I see.
Having time to lie down and reflect on my course in this life helped me yet again to realize just how many times I have been blind in this life, spiritually or emotionally, and how the Lord opened my eyes to see. And what did I see? I saw the beauty of our Heavenly Father’s workmanship through His Son all around me. I saw again the kindness and beauty of my loving wife and companion. I saw the wonderful children and grandchildren that surround me. I saw again how fortunate we have been in having our needs met, in being as healthy and well as we are, in being free from the violence and evil that pervades our surroundings. I saw again the blessings of the Gospel and the Lord in our lives.
As we go through our daily grind, I think we often lose our sight ever so slightly. And over time, we can go blind to the wonderful blessings of life. And I am grateful for “down time” that, though painful most of those times, opens my eyes and lets me say, “I was blind, but now I see.”
