Sunday, December 17, 2000

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

It was August 1984. Clark & Esther Bardole, Nancy's parents, my in-laws, Nancy and I, and our two children, Sarah and Matthew spent nearly the whole month in Switzerland. Trips into Italy, France, and Germany helped make this trip worthwhile.

Being able to travel to Europe was a dream come true. We were to visit and stay with John and Lois Graf in Uetendorf, in the canton of Bern. Their home was available and adequate though they were in the USA for a family wedding. The privilege of visiting in Europe was exciting. We wondered how we would get by without knowing any German.

I sort of thought of myself as quite "cultured" and well educated since I'd been the first in my extended family to attend - let alone finish college. I was also a graduate of seminary.

When we landed in Luxembourg, Luxembourg we stayed close to our hotel, taking small trips by trolley and bus. To save money we bought food in a local grocery. I remember that we had our items in our arms waiting in line at the cash register. Well aware of the educational structure in Europe, a person who was working in a grocery, almost without a doubt, was unable to go on to the "gymnasium" but went to a "trade school".

While standing there in line I had my "eyes opened". The clerk spoke to one party ahead of us in clear German. The party immediately ahead of us she greeted in perfect French. And when she checked out our items, she spoke to us in wonderful English. My pride had been in the way - keeping me from seeing what was true. I was thinking because of my rich and varied education, I was more important than this clerk behind the counter at a small grocery in Luxembourg. Certainly more educated.

But when I compared my one language that I could speak fluently versus at least three, if not four or five languages this young woman could speak, I realized that I was blind to my own inflated importance.

God can use our blindness to help us come to our senses, to see with our heart along with our eyes. Where does your own sense of self-importance get in your way? In what ways do you need to have the balloon of pride pricked? How do you need to have the blindness that has limited you to be lifted from your eyes, your vision, in order to see the beauty and grace and wonder and joy in the life of each person?

May God be at work in you and me to break through the cataracts that limit our vision, the blindness to hope and sanity, and the insensitivity of pride. May new sight be yours this Advent! --DH

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