Monday, December 11, 2000

"and recovery of sight to the blind" Luke 4:18

Three decades ago, during Old Testament class at Boston University School of Theology, Professor Harrell Beck told the following story.

"John, a friend of mine, who is a teacher as am I, comes to class everyday, riding the trolley. He would board the trolley beyond the Hancock Clarke House, just short of the Interstate 95 perimeter beltway, on highways 4 and 225, near his home in Lexington. Fortified with a simple breakfast and armed with his copy of the Boston Globe and his briefcase, he would place his token in the fare box and enjoy the hour ride to BU where he taught communications. The ride was nearly long enough for him to read the Globe. Without a doubt he would begin with the comics, then move to the sports, and finally to the front page.

"He would laugh about his favorite comic strips or complain about the lack of ability of the Red Socks. Hardly ever did he look up from his paper. People got off and on the trolley at nearly every stop. Yet my friend's internal clock did call him out of his newspaper enjoyment a stop or two before the College of Liberal Arts building where he taught.

"It was two days ago that everything changed for him. During the early morning that day a terrible wind and thunderstorm blew over several trees in Lexington. With the downing of the trees the electricity was 'knocked out' for nearly two hours. Nearly thirty minutes after his normal rising time, he woke with a start. Realizing he was late he hurried to catch his trolley. In his hurry he forgot his paper.

"What a time he had! He had never before paid attention to all the people who boarded and exited the trolley. He was surprised to see two young girls get on, with white canes. He had never seen them before. Listening to their conversation, he learned they rode the trolley daily, getting on after him and off before he did. But he had never seen them! He had been so engrossed in his newspaper reading. And when they got off, across the street from the trolley station was the school for the blind!

"My friend's closing comment about this story is telling. He said, here I am, a professor of communication, whose whole motivation is to open minds of students to witness what others miss - and I missed what was before my very eyes! Who was the blind one, anyway?" --DH

Consider: Where have you been blind to events around you? When have you had your eyes opened?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, come to me that I might have my eyes wide open to see. Heal my blindness to the needs of others. Amen.

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