Our scripture for this week from Acts 9 is the account of Saul’s vision returning to him. Saul had encountered Christ on the Damascus road and was blinded. Christ sent Ananias to Saul to proclaim his healing and filling with the Holy Spirit.
Thinking about Saul’s experience I remembered when I needed to get glasses as my eyesight became bleary. I remember putting my new glasses on and looking around me at how clear and crisp everything was. My eyesight had deteriorated over a long period of time. As clarity and focus diminished, I didn’t notice right away. I just accepted that this was the way things were.
I think that the same is true in our journey of faith. As time goes by, we don’t see as clearly who we are called to be. Things in the distance are all fuzzy, so it is hard to see where we are headed. Sometimes, we veer off the path.
The same is true for congregations. In the beginning there was energy and focus. We knew who we were and where we were going. Years go by and the energy is not what it used to be. We no longer see clearly where we are going and how we are going to get there.
In our physical bodies we know what to do – we get glasses and we can see clearly again. In our spiritual life we know that returning to the nourishment of our faith with prayer and study will bring energy and clarity. In our congregations the same is true.
So, the question for this week is how is your vision? You will notice I didn’t ask how your eyesight is. We can see and not understand. Vision is, I think, seeing and understanding.
Lord Jesus, restore our vision that we may truly see our pathway. Amen.
Always, to God be the glory!
Paul