via Daily Post: Blur
If only we could see through the smears and stains of life which obscure our perspectives of past, present, and future, then we might have an opportunity to make sense of the shape and form of reality and truth. The blur often takes place in the question, “Why me?” Not that the question isn’t valid, because I to have asked it often in my own life. Validity notwithstanding, it’s the blur causing us to ask the question, so it’s the blur we need to get through. We seek clarity, understanding, some logical sense of purpose for whatever is causing our eyes to blur.
Sometimes it’s a log. This common mistake is common among every human ever born. It’s described for us clearly. Hear the words of Jesus for understanding.
Luke 6:42
Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.
Hypocrite is not a “church” word, although it’s often been designated as such. Hupokrites (Greek) means “actor.” This definition perfectly describes someone who thinks they know how to fix their neighbors blurred vision, while acting as though they can see perfectly. Just look around at the political system of the United States government in action for the last 18 months for a grandiose example of hypocrite.
Still, sometimes it’s pain, loss or suffering. We love to be entertained by the Hollywood moguls who give us great lines of sacrificial pain or death. Circa 1982 in the Wrath of Khan, Spock says, “Logic clearly dictates that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.” Kirk answers, “Because the needs of the one outweigh the needs of the few.” Our heart strings pull as Spock dies to save the Starship Enterprise.
Our minds are blurred by our own pain or suffering so we ask, “Why me?” It’s another common mistake, common to every human. Even the Apostle Paul asked God to take away his pain, three separate times according to Paul’s own blurred memory…our equivalent of “why me?” Listen to Paul’s witness about what happened next…
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
And He (GOD) has said to me (PAUL), “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
Apparently, it was through the acceptance of God’s sovereign hand on Paul’s life, that Paul was able to get past the blur and see the reality, logic, and purpose for his pain, suffering and loss. To what end? Well, Paul gives us that information too. 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 is a lengthy description of Paul’s afflictions. Listen to the message of verses 3-4.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
All too often we are so blurred in our thinking due to our pain, suffering or loss, that we become paralyzed into thinking or believing we are the only ones hurting this way. Paul admonishes us to see through the haze, and recognize a greater purpose for our personal relationships with friends and family. They hurt too. They experience pain, suffering, and loss too. In the same way God gives us strength through our own misery, He wants to use us to bring soothing comfort to others our life touches.
Have you ever considered that when you reach out to touch, comfort or soothe someone else’s pain, suffering or loss… even if you haven’t healed completely yet… that this is when the blur fades away and your vision clears, and your pain decreases? This is by design. The Creator made us this way on purpose. He is the God of all comfort. His great desire is to use us to bring comfort to others.
Blurred vision or crystal clear sight more often than not is a personal choice.
As I was saying... 