A Note From Rob ...
Week of May 3
There are times I wish I was blind, deaf and unable to speak. However alluring that may be sometimes, it
would be maddening. Maybe there might be a middle ground. Instead of being blind, maybe blinders could be
bought or glasses with special lenses that would allow me to see only what I want to see. Being totally deaf would
be difficult for one who enjoys music as I do. Maybe hearing would be selective. What about hearing only what I
want to hear? And this speaking thing, I guess it would be easier not to speak out against the ills of the world with
limited sight and hearing.
Maybe we should just remove a hymn from the hymnal. It is number 454 in our Hymnal, Open My Eyes,
That I May See.
Open my eyes, that I may see glimpses of truth thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key that shall unclasp and set me free.
Open my ears that I may hear voices of truth thou sendest clear,
And when the wave-notes call on my ear, everything false will disappear.
Open my mouth, and let me bear gladly the warm truth everywhere;
Open my heart, and let me prepare love with thy children thus to share.
The refrain is especially problematic for those wanting to have limited sight, hearing and voice.
Silently now, I wait for Thee, ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my eyes, ears and heart, illumine me, Spirit Divine!
Be careful what you ask for.
Bishop Will Willimon says the Church should add a caution to those coming to worship the living God.
He says we should caution people that following this Jesus is risky, dangerous because it will wreak havoc on an
otherwise placid life. Praying and singing to see, hear and speak the will of God is revolutionary if not revolting.
One of the realities when Jesus healed the blind, deaf and mute is that the lives they lived before were
over. I think that is why Jesus asked the man at the pool of Siloam, “Do you want to be healed, made whole?”
I guess it is a fair question. We do have a choice. Staying blind, deaf and speechless have advantages. No
one expects much from the likes of those. But Jesus seems to keep showing up with the opportunity to heal those
who are willing to accept that gift, opportunity and responsibility.
Now back to the original dilemma. Sometimes it would be convenient to be selectively blind, deaf and
mute. That is a choice but is it Christian?
RETURN
|