Perfect Vision
Mom was on her way to the surgical center because sometimes check-ups turn out to be bad news. She had too much pressure behind her optic nerve, and that much pressure damages said nerve until, over time, the world narrows and is finally black. She’s already lost a lot of vision, and protecting what she has left is the doctor’s chief aim. Her specialist has already taken great measures in this regard because advanced though the medical community may be, to date they haven’t figured out how to reverse nerve damage. The goal is to stop her glaucoma from wreaking any more havoc on her vision.
She has an implant in each eye, a tiny tube that siphons fluid from the back of the eye to the sides in order to relieve the pressure, creating a healthier environment for her fragile optic nerve. The implant somehow got detached in one eye, necessitating emergency surgery. She blames herself because she’s not supposed to rub her eyes, but let’s face it, who can resist? So she rubs — infrequently and ever so gently, and I don’t begrudge her that. But no one knows how the tube became detached, and we never will. So I do begrudge her the self-blame.
We like to do that to ourselves though, don’t we: put ourselves under pressure and get on our own nerves. We are experts at adding to life’s pressures with our self-blame, guilt and condemnation. There is such thing as a healthy amount of pressure, but when we add to it excessively (and sinfully), the extra pressure can narrow our view of the world and threaten darkness.
Shouldn’t we behave more like the siphon that relieves undue pressure and promotes health and vitality? Wouldn’t you like a view to the world that was broad and colorful and captured every panoramic detail in perfect light?
The implanted Holy Spirit can siphon off safely into our blind sides the blame, guilt, and condemnation we pressure ourselves with. Why not let the Great Physician do his surgery and help you see. The unobstructed view is a beautiful sight. Not to mention how good it feels when nothing’s on your nerves and knowing you’re more pleasing in His sight.
“Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God” (Revelation 3:2).
So true, Dawn. When I am under pressure, I start to lose focus. I need to more in tune with Him to not rub my situation.
Very, very true.