I can see... and it's a beautiful thing!

The VOICE of Inspiration

By: Don Lindsey

When I was about 12 years old, my mother realized that I was having a tough time seeing things from a distance and took me to the doctor for an eye exam. It was determined from that visit that I would need glasses. I was against it from the start. I didn’t think that I needed them and didn’t like the way that they looked on me, even though I picked out the frames.

A couple of weeks went by, and I was able to convince my mother that I didn’t need the glasses and stopped wearing them. The years went by, and while I knew that I had to get close to things to read or see clearly, I didn’t think that it was that big of a deal. I still saw things up close well, and I figured that was good enough. But as time went by, the distance that I could see shortened up even more.

It was becoming obvious that I needed to get an eye exam.

After talking it over with my wife, we took a trip to our local Wal Mart and found out that my eyesight was a lot worse than I thought. I picked out some frames, and we ordered the glasses. On Thursday, they came in, and I find myself still trying to get used to the ability to see details again.

As I sat Friday night, winding down for the evening, I began to see that there have been other areas where I’ve missed seeing details or certain moments because I have been too wrapped up in my own life. My poor vision isn’t just an eyesight issue; it’s also a failure to recognize when to slow down enough during my day to appreciate all the gifts that God has given me. This issue is just as big of a problem, if not bigger than the eyesight issue because these gifts are my wife, kids, parents, family, and friends. When I get too caught up in what I’m doing, I tend to lose track of times when I can spend some quality time with them.

I also find that when I have some time to pray or meditate, I have a mind that feels clearer during the day. I get away from this mindset as well and now see the importance of spending a few minutes when I can to connect with God or just clear my mind. My wife has often spoken of how she finds that when she wakes up early, she seems to get more done and feels better than mornings when she’s rushing to get out the door. I’m thinking that if I can apply this way of thinking then not only will I see more from an eyesight perspective due to my glasses but that I’ll also be able to get more out of my life by recognizing important moments and seizing them. I can see, and it’s a beautiful thing. Have a wonderful week, and God bless.

Don Lindsey is a follower of Christ, son, husband, father, and a survivor. Originally from Dayton Ohio, and resident of Apopka for six years, Don sees his life as a dedication to his wife, parents, children, and community.