Seeing Things Clearly

Even after years of being in Celebrate Recovery, it’s been hard to admit I needed help. I’d concede it was a small issue, but nothing to be concerned about. Through most of my life I’ve never had a problem with it. But several years ago, I noticed things were getting worse. Finally, a couple of weeks ago I broke down and sought professional help…. I got glasses.

I think my denial was not so much due to the fact that it’s another sign of age, as I turned fifty last year; so that boat has sailed. But for me, this was my one good physical trait. I’ve been shorter than everyone since Jr. High; I’ve always struggled to keep weight off; and my hearing is diminished (though some of that is self-inflicted thanks to in-ear headphones and certain music that can’t be listened to with the volume set at less than 10). My eyesight was the one positive physical characteristic I inherited. As a teenager it was 20/15, which is ABOVE normal. But over the years, myopia set in. Myopia is the condition in which you see things up close clearly, but things some distance away are out of focus. We generally refer to it as near-sightedness. It’s a very common condition—nothing drastic or exotic—and is easily corrected with glasses. Millions of people deal with it just fine.

It’s made me wonder, though about a similar condition when it comes to our spiritual outlook. Just as visual myopia develops over time, I believe spiritual myopia is a widespread—and undiagnosed—issue as well. Spiritual myopia is when we see the things that affect us clearly, but those who aren’t in our short field of view are completely out of focus. Symptoms include stubbornness, irritability, and/or a lack of ability to put the needs of others above our own preferences.

Sometimes it manifests as a refusal to serve, because my calendar is crammed with stuff that I want to do. Sometimes it presents as an absolute refusal to consider changes to things around me that would benefit others, but aren’t the way I’d prefer. Other times it exhibits as a exertion of my rights over another person’s need.

The Bible talks a lot about spiritual myopia. 1 Corinthians 10:24 says, “No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.”Philippians 2:3-4 says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

While physical myopia can be corrected easily with glasses or contact lenses, spiritual myopia takes a little more effort. There’s no piece of hardware we can put on that realigns our focus from self to those who might be at a distance. It takes a recognition that there’s a problem, a submission to God’s will instead of our own, and continual prayer for Him to help us refocus and see the bigger picture—and all the people that encompasses. It’s not easy, but according to Scripture it’s also not optional.

I’m trying my best to get used to these glasses, but it is nice at long last to be able to clearly read what’s up on the screens from the sound booth in the back of the auditorium. I don’t want to be like the friend of mine who, one Sunday, due to a lack of vision had his congregation singing, “Oh that with yonder sacred thong….”