I recently saw a remarkable 2 minute video of a blind man sitting on the sidewalk with a tin can for donations and a sign that said “I am Blind please help”. While that is a fairly normal sight in many cities, few people respond by sharing any coins in their pockets. In the video a woman passes by then comes back,
flips his sign over and writes a new sign. After this the donations come flooding in. The woman returns to stand before the blind man and he asks what she did to his sign. She says “I wrote the same with different words”. As she walks away the sign is revealed which says “It is a beautiful day and I can’t see it”.
She did not make a donation herself. She did not change his circumstances at all. She simply provided a different point of view, one he could not have been aware of. It was also one others who were passing by did not yet see the impact of. He was also unable to change his circumstances or know the perspective she provided.
All around us are people who are blind; some physically, some emotionally and some spiritually. Some are so wrapped up in the monotony of their lives they don’t even realize there is a question. The question is “What do you see?” Many of them do not even see a future of hope. Others do not believe that there is the slightest chance this will get better. Their sight is boxed into the narrow field of view which they have been put into.
When I write and study in the early morning, I often start before the sun comes up. I sit at my desk in my small office or at the kitchen table (close to the coffee pot). There is usually a glare on my eyes as the day dawns and the light of the sun comes pouring through the large bay window over the sink. So I sit with my back to the window.
I miss the dazzling show as the colors of day come to life. The darkness is pushed aside, the greens in the garden, the red, blue and brown birds, the grey squirrels and that pesky speckled ground hog all are brought into full view by the advancing light of the sun. Yet if my back is to the window I am blind to it all. I do not see the rain or the final swoop of the bats as they duck for cover of darkness in the old chimney. I miss so much that I am not even aware of. I see only the screen, the keyboard, the dining room and whatever happens to be in my narrow field of view. I am blind to all of this majesty because of my point of view.
If someone comes in and remarks on the view out the window I may ignore them and continue my isolated pursuits. Or, and perhaps at their insistence, I may turn and appreciate all the glory that is streaming in.
My entire view of the world is changed in a moment. My perspective on what I had been studying is instantly altered. The dim shadows I noticed earlier as I turned my back on that window is now a glorious stage upon which the beautiful scenes of the day are played out. I missed the unveiling. I missed what wonders were to be beheld as the transition from darkness to daylight took place. I was blind to the inspiring elegance of God’s display. He had already made a new day and I had missed its birth.
So I wonder, would I have actually seen Him? As His hand rotated the earth to receive the morning rays? Would I have noticed, maybe in documentary film slow motion, as He pealed the petals apart to reveal floral beauty? Would I have thought of His shepherding heart as the birds flitted and flirted in their age old rituals? Would His presence have been more real than it is at this moment?
In just thinking about this I am covered in “God Presence” chills. I am swallowed in the ecstasy of being His. I may be blind to some of the beauty in the world but I am not blind to His overwhelming love. So it is even with the blind man whose sign did not effectively communicate his lack. The day was beautiful and he could not see it. How very, very sad! And yet not nearly as sad as a man who can see with his eyes and does not witness God’s presence and glories.
“I once was blind but now I see”, wrote John Newton in the very familiar song “Amazing Grace”. One man cannot see but does know the love of God and another can see but does not know the love of God. What pity to know of one who cannot see and doesn’t know the love of God.
Perhaps in just a moment of unique perspective you could provide the simple words that would impact the blindness that obscures the truth. There are none so blind as those who will not see. We cannot make someone else see, all we can do is to describe what we see. The sign on their heart might read “I don’t know what I can’t see. Can you help me?” You can change their sign to read “He is a beautiful God and I can’t see Him.” Then perhaps as someone once did for you, you can show Him to them.