Spiritual Blindness
A couple years ago I started backyard birdwatching inspired by the movie ‘The Big Year’ with Jack Black and Owen Wilson. Living in the foothills of our own Mt Tabor I quickly racked up 30 species. I was astonished that I had never seen all these bird species before. I was figuratively blind to birds. And then recently, starting this newsletter with the intention of featuring my original pictures, to avoid copyright infringment, I started seeing wonderful photo opportunities where I had not seen before. Again I was figuratively blind to the beauty that surrounded me.
As I read this week’s Gospel, John Chapter 9: 1-41 on the man born blind, the above figurative blindnesses came to mind. This is no way diminishes the severe handicap of genuine blindness. It alerts us though to the many lesser blindnesses that we can exhibit. Among these is spiritual blindness.
Spiritual blindness is a term I use to describe being unable to perceive or understand the spiritual implications of occurrences in our lives. It is a lack of awareness, insight, or understanding that our experiences have a spiritual dimension. We interpret events as coincidences or rational cause and effect when often they are messages from our psyche or the spiritual realm.
It is an inability to see beyond the physical or to comprehend spiritual concepts such as interconnectedness, transcendence, and the action of God in our lives. Overcoming spiritual blindness involves inner growth, self-reflection, and practices such as meditation, prayer, and contemplation. It requires a shift in perspective, an openness to new ideas, and a willingness to explore the mysteries of the spiritual dimension of our lives.
Like the man born blind we need Jesus’ healing of our spiritual blindness. This healing is Jesus’ perogative. In Matthew 8: 2-3 the leper approaches Jesus and says “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.” Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” There is no limit to Jesus’ mercy and he loves us and is willing to heal us - if we only open our lives to his healing touch.
The leper ‘prayed to Jesus’ in his words - let us also go to Jesus and ask him to heal us of our spiritual blindness. Jesus, please give us sight so that we can see your actions and your will for our lives and the courage to positively respond with gratitude.