Lying around the house, mostly where he left them, are pairs of glasses and contact lenses that no longer require use. I've talked before about his bad eyesight. In one eye he had uncorrectable vision... 20/200, I think it was. The other eye was 20/uh, a little better than the other one.

Have you ever worn someone else's glasses? Bad idea! A headache begins immediately! I have often wondered what it would be like to see through Beej's eyes. I have tried his glasses on. When I do, I cannot make out the writing on the posters on the wall. If his glasses skew my vision as badly as his eyes needed correcting, his view in the world was poor, when uncorrected.

Wearing glasses is not funny, but I have struggled many times not to laugh at friends (Elsie Jay) wearing bi-focals, bobble-heading it to gain focus on what they were trying to read. Deanna has been wearing reading glasses for some time now. I teased her when she began. I often offer to hold her book across the room so she can read without them. For some reason, this isn't funny to her anymore.

Now it seems that my turn has arrived. I struggle to see my devotional book and/or Bible each morning without borrowing her glasses...Shhhh! Don't tell her! I've even found myself bouncing my head like the little dog figures that used to sit in the back windows of cars, as I try to see the news on tv after reading a passage (a feeble attempt at multi-tasking).

I still see the humor in this, even though I am the one to be laughed at.

BJ wore glasses for most of his life. His vision, foggy at best. He was a hard working young man who compensated for this short-coming, somehow. He would often leave his glasses at home on school days. I do not know how he could see what he needed to see.

His vision of the world was something he was used to. I remember how shocked he was when he first got glasses. All the details were sharp, and he was amazed. He said he didn't know the world looked this way.

How often do we look at the world with our own filters, based on our own life experiences. We accept as fact, things which according to scripture are clearly fiction. We do so because we are more comfortable believing what is less convicting.

In Matthew 9:35-36 It says "Jesus went through all the towns and villages... When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd."

Too many times when we walk filthy streets, we condemn in our heads those we see who are drunk, disheveled, or in general, have filthy hearts. We cling to the faith we have, but do not grasp the task of taking the gospel to these who are in desperate need. Our vision of the world is poor, when uncorrected.

Proverbs 4:19 says "But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble."

If they do not know, then they need someone with good vision to show them. BJ had poor vision in the world, but he had clear vision of the world. His vision was not his own, but because he had eyes for the Savior, the Savior gave him eyes for the world.

How's your vision?

brent (dad)


Ashley R. your gift was so precious to us! They've already been used, and I sadly forgot to thank you! The card you made was very meaningful. We still have it! You are a blessing!

Layla, write me at bahiggins1259@msn.com