Today’s Author: Christer Cederberg
The Gospel story from the book of John 9, where Jesus heals a man born blind has a very special meaning for me. A dozen years ago my eyes were failing me. In our sanctuary, the large ceiling globes of light mesmerized me, and their halos extended faaar outside the physical glass. Attempting to sing from a hymnal was difficult as I often had to guess at the words. The world was becoming two shades of brown instead of the normal rainbow.
At my workplace, I sat up-front in the conference rooms … and still fought to read the presented material.
At the optometrist, I complained bitterly about my new glasses not making it any easier to read.
Then finally, after a visit to my ophthalmologist, he diagnosed me with Fuch’s dystrophy, a disease of the cornea. He suggested I see a specialist, Dr. Carpel. Little did I know how that doctor, like Jesus, would calmly and methodically make me see again.This wonderful specialist in corneal diseases worked with me over the years. He was an early adopter of DSEK surgery from its inception in 2003. The DSEK was less invasive than the previous full-corneal transplantation. From 2012 to 2014, he performed three DSEKs on me — the last one being his final surgery before retiring from HealthPartners! He had asked me for a walk-off homerun, and he got it.
His staff then asked former patients to contribute short stories for a book as a retirement memory. Did I say retire? At age 70 he went on to the V.A. Hospital. You can read my memory here.
My devotion today has focused on literal seeing. Maybe we just take for granted this amazing capability of our bodies to help us live, interact with and enjoy the world around us. Please now also consider that John instead may have figuratively referred to seeing as the “gotcha moment” when we see the light others have yet to see.
Photo Credit: Christer Cederberg
God of vision, Too often we are spiritually blindfolded, unable to see you at work in our world.
Remove barriers that keep us from seeing. Help us to be light for others. Amen.
(Prayer of the Day, Narrative Lectionary)