Was Blind, But Now I See

One of the current projects that the Cool Spring sportsmen have undertaken is the development and construction of an archery range. This range is being designed for archers and bow hunters from our community to use as a convenient and adequate facility to tune their shooting skills, and also be easily adapted to host archery camps and ASA qualifier shoots if and when the opportunities present themselves. Our hope is that during the course of their regular visits to the range, that we can build relationships with them, and in the process be able to share the life changing message of Jesus Christ with them. Well, in the process of clearing shooting lanes on the range last Saturday, a tree limb came across my face, got up underneath my sunglasses, and scratched the cornea on my left eye. Six doctor's visits later, my sight is just about back to normal, and I have an all new appreciation for the gift of sight!

Matthew 6:22-23 (NASB)
"The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!"

As a result of my eye injury, I spent the remainder of last weekend and the first part of this past work week laying in the dark. I was required to wear a patch and then a protective contact lens early in the week, and these coupled with the copious amounts of dilation put into my injured eye, resulted in not being able to endure even the smallest amounts of exposure to sunlight. Moving about throughout the house with blurred vision also presented a challenge, as I found myself tripping over things that were obvious hazards when both eyes were working well. I even experienced poor perception, reaching for objects that were too far away and bumping into edges of door frames which were normal width. Overall, my vision had been compromised, and my perception of the physical world around me had been skewed.

In a spiritual light, Jesus is saying to us in His instruction above that our eyes can be used to see that which is good and that which is evil, that which is beneficial and that which is harmful, and the things that are seen and perceived affect our whole being. If we perceive goodness, that will flow outward from our hearts and minds. But if we allow our eyes to focus on evil, soon enough we can be blinded to His truth and our minds become corrupted. If left unchecked, darkness can begin to flow from within us and corrupt those around us as well.

Guys, how careful are you in where you allow your eyes to go? Taking the necessary precautions requires discipline, and I urge you to guard your souls by guarding your eyes. And remember, if you want to be filled with true light, you must repent from your sin, ask God to forgive and cleanse you, and desire for Him to open your spiritual eyes. - GE

Tip of the Week
Always ensure that you are using adequate eye protection when clearing brush, cutting lanes, using power equipment, or doing anything that may involve contact between your eyes and foreign objects. Using safety goggles may prevent accidents that happen without the use of eye wear or while using inferior methods of eye protection. Another wise investment is a pair of polarized sunglasses for use when spending time outdoors, especially fishing. Make sure that they are properly fitted to your face, and that they have the correct colored lens to match your typical conditions. Not only will they provide the necessary protection from the damaging effects of the sun's rays, they will also allow you to see fish which were previously invisible by brightening up your field of view while sufficiently cutting glare from the water.