Tag: seeing

Posted in Devotions, Through the Bible Devotions

He sees you

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Rainier Ridao on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Genesis 16.

Then [Hagar] called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You are a God who sees me.” (Genesis 16:13)

I love how characters in the Old Testament narrative come up with names for God that reflect their experience with him. Hagar, Sarai’s servant, comes up with a great one: El-roi. “The God who sees me.”

No one knows Hagar. She is Sarai’s Egyptian slave woman, commanded to be the surrogate mother of Abram’s child. Sarai’s not having any children. How else will Abram become the father of a great nation?

Once Hagar conceives, Sarai becomes jealous and abusive. Hagar has to run for her life. God meets her in the desert and sends her back home. She matters. She is not simply an asterisk in the history books. Her descendants will be a great nation too.

No one remembers the person who finished second. Few remember Super Bowl or World Series losers. Winners get their name on the Stanley Cup. Losers are forgotten.

Except when it comes to God, who sees you and I and Hagar. And Jacob, the younger twin. And Gideon, the youngest member of the least important family of his tribe. And David, the youngest of eight brothers. Or Paul, the foremost of sinners.

Whether you like it or not, God notices you. For better or worse, you’re on his radar. He’s in the stands, cheering on your team, even if you’re on the bench. He’s your biggest fan.

Posted in Life

“Can I ask you about your blindness?”

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Mikhail Nilov on Pexels

At the pre-bible study meal on Wednesday night, I sat across from Jason. I’ve sat with him, eaten, and talked with him before, but never asked about his blindness. He faithfully comes to the Wednesday night men’s bible study. After a while you don’t notice the dark glasses and folded up white wooden cane under his chair. He’s just part of the group.

But tonight I said, “Jason, it’s Bill.” I try to identify myself when I sit down with him. And then I asked, “Can I ask you about your blindness? Have you ever had any sight?”

He smiled and told me he had been born blind. “In fact, when I was born, they had to remove one of my eyes. I’ve never been able to see.” He added, “But I really got messed up when I lost my hearing.”

Jason continued, “When I was a teenager, I would put on my headphones and listen to heavy metal music way too loud. My mom could never get my attention. I guess I overdid it. Now I’m paying for it.”

He then told me about a time when a nurse wanted to check his vision. “She wanted me to read a line of letters on the wall. I had to explain to her that I couldn’t see anything. Boy, was she embarrassed!”

One week, Jason made a pot of chili for the Wednesday night meal. It was delicious. He explained, “My mom taught me how to cook.” She was a good teacher. He has won a few chili cook-offs.

I’ve gotten to know a few of the blind who attend this church. Emily sings with the worship team, equipped with braille songsheets on her music stand. Ricky, with just a little bit of peripheral vision, does a lot of long distance running. Billie had her golden retriever assistance dog in church with her. Yes, of course, I stopped by to say hi to both!

Engaging with the blind is a great reminder that this world is not the way it’s supposed to be. It’s also a reminder that God is doing everything needed to restore it. Jesus gave us a taste of that, giving sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, and getting the lame back up on their feet.

Can you imagine what it will be like when the first thing you see in your life is Jesus?

Posted in senses

What did you see, hear or smell?

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Edi Libedinsky on Unsplash

On the heels of my last post, I’ve been musing about the parts of the body listed in 1 Corinthians 12. I like the way Paul asks, “If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell” (v17). Of course everyone isn’t an eye, or an ear, or a nose. But some people are, and I think that’s fascinating.

Some people are “eyes” and see things I might miss. They see the things God is doing. Or they see the needs people have. They see miracles happen all the time.

Some people are “ears,” and hear things I might miss. They hear nuances in people’s voices, hearing more than just the words spoken. They hear what someone is really trying to say.

I guess that means some people are noses, too. They know when the coffee is brewing, the wine is uncorked and the flowers have arrived. They can tell when something (or someone) is a little too ripe. They know it’s time to open the windows and air the place out.

Others are hands. They know the power of touch. Some are feet. They are quick to arrive somewhere.

All I want to know is, “What do you see? What do you hear? Or smell? How does it feel? Where did you go?” I might miss the things you think are obvious. Make sure you share them with me!