Nearsighted At Night

This past December, my optometrist decided my vision had finally deteriorated enough to warrant glasses.  My poor eyesight was becoming an inhibition to my driving ability.  My vision was perfectly adequate during the day thanks to the amply amount of sunlight we’re so fortunate to receive in Athens, but couple my eyesight with heavy rain or dark skies, and I better have my insurance card ready.  My eyes were doing their absolute best, but my eyes alone were simply inadequate.  To perform as they should, my eyes needed help.

This year more than ever before I have found myself stressed and worried about everything.  I never realized how many things in life I could actually fret over simultaneously.  Somewhere in the midst of my troubles, I began to ask myself why life had become so difficult.  This year was certainly a unique one for me, which meant a set of unique trials that I had not previously encountered, but many of my worries were simply recycled from previous years.  What was different?  Finally, I realized.  I had forgotten what was most important to me.  I lost sight of what really mattered.  I was so caught up in just surviving that I wasn’t really living.

I think we all become a bit nearsighted when the darkness sets in.  Our focus narrows, our problems grow exponentially, and we feel angry and confused, wondering where the light has gone.  Our vision, already imperfect, becomes further impaired by a wide variety of obstacles.  We find ourselves seemingly alone in the dark.  Impatience and despair overtake our ability to look beyond the present moment.  Too occupied with worries and fears, we forget the bigger picture.

Perspective.  Both a problem and a solution; it’s a powerful thing.  Our perspective determines how and why we act.  Sometimes, especially in the dark times, we need assistance to see where we’re headed.  Even during the brightest moments, we can easily forget what matters.  We don’t know or understand everything.  We aren’t supposed to.  God is painting on a canvas much larger than we can see or imagine.  We can manage on our own, but life is much more lucid if we just relent and put on the glasses. 

Congratulations, .  I wish you peace, happiness, and the ability to see at night.