Healing Rays of Righteousness

During my childhood and early teen years, I could not see things that others were seeing in the distant sky or woods. And I remember asking my schoolteachers to be seated closer to the classroom blackboard in order to better see the teacher’s writing. However, I do not remember questioning my vision or complaining to my parents. But at age 16, when I excitedly went for my driver’s permit, I failed the vision exam and needed corrective glasses before receiving the permit.

I can still visualize and feel the amazement that welled up in me as my dad and I walked from the optician’s office to our car. Stepping out of the office and onto the brick sidewalk, I excitedly exclaimed that I could see the sidewalk as individual bricks. And then looking up at the trees along the street I could hardly contain my excitement in seeing the shape and beauty of the trees’ leaves.

From that moment on, with the healing help of corrective lens, I enjoyed exploring a new world of earthly beauty and magnificence. And this visual exploring, coupled with a desire to see Jesus, became   a life-long pursuit. Many are the times, both glorious and grievous, that I, like blind Bartimaeus, answered Jesus’ question, “What do you want me to do for you?” with “I want to see.”    

Corrective lenses have opened the door wide to an ever-new understanding and appreciation for the world around me. And as such, it greatly impacted my relationship with God. Every day and everywhere, my desire has been, “Jesus, I want to see more of you in my world.” Maybe that is why I so thoroughly enjoyed traveling with van and trailer across country, east-west, north-south many times during our years of marriage.

Remember, Bartimaeus is a beggar, so he could have asked for a bag of gold. He has no status in the community, so he could have asked for the respect of others. He is unemployed, so he could have asked for a job. Most likely he has made mistakes in life, so he could have asked for forgiveness. But instead, he asks for healing of eyesight.

“Go, your faith has healed you” says Jesus. And “Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.”  Instantly Bartimaeus’ blindness was healed and seeing Jesus, he quickly joins the crowd in following Jesus on the journey to Jerusalem. What else can you imagine him doing?

Bartimaeus is spontaneously enthusiastic, and in all likelihood, was one of the participants in the cheering crowd surrounding Jesus as he enters Jerusalem, shouting “”Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

We can receive the same life-changing healing of heart, mind, and spiritual insights. We can fully embrace Jesus as our most loving and powerful Messiah King. And we can follow him with re-energized courage and confidence, as our most trustworthy Savior. And the first step toward that reality is in answering Jesus’ question, “What do you want me to do for you?” with “Lord Jesus, I want to see you.”

If we ask, Jesus will heal our eyes, allowing us to see the chaotic world as he sees it. He daily calls us to walk with him in loving and caring for the world with the grand vision of building God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. Amen!

The song-writer, Bob Dylan asks some hard questions that call for a prayerful “I want to see” response.

Blowing in the Wind

“How many times must a man look up, before he sees the sky?

Yes, and how many ears must one man have, before he can hear people cry?

Yes, and how many times can a man turn his head, and pretend that he just doesn’t see?

The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind, the answer is blowing in the wind.”

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Ray M. Geigley – “Healing Rays of Righteousness” – www.geigler13.wordpress.com – 4/10/25