Recently I found myself in need of new glasses. I am amazed at the difference being able to see clearly makes. I like to take them up and down, and be amazed at what a properly prescribed lens can do for vision clarity. This event caused me to stop and be amazed at the profession that is optometry. The Snellen Eye Chart is the standard used in measuring the eye's ability to distinguish detail and shapes (visual acuity). The Chart is made up of a series of letters, numbers or symbols of progressively smaller size, the largest at the top. "Normal" vision is 20/20. A person who can clearly read a one-inch letter at a distance of 20 feet is considered to have normal vision. All measurements obtained from use of the Snellen Chart are a comparison to that standard. Persons who have 20/40 vision, for example, can read at 20 feet what people with normal vision can read at 40 feet.
Visual acuity is the medical term for sharpness of vision. It deals with the sharpness, or discrimination, of central vision, rather than the extent or clarity of peripheral vision.
Today I am wondering, where is our chart for the spirtual vision? Although, I suspect I can be seeing 20/20 and still be missing the clarity of peripheral vision. This is perspective.
What I mean is, I can know what is true, believe that Jesus IS. I can be seeing with a 20/20 vision that God is sovereign and in control and still miss what is right there, in the perepheral. Faith... the confident assurance that what we hope for is so. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see. The letters too small for even one with 20/20...but they are there. Just because we cannot make them out, does not mean they are not as clear as those we see.
I want new glasses that will help me see the peripheral ... that can see what God is doing. Who He is drawing to Himself. How He will reveal Himself. I want to see the events of life in hindsight. Yea, glasses like the spy glasses that Sam and Spencer have - with rear view mirrors on the backside edges of the lens so I can't sneak up on them. Glasses that help to see in hindsight, now instead of later.
But then, what fun would that be anyway. Maybe I'll just enjoy the central vision - it's amazing enough as it is.
1 comment:
Well, I want to appreciate your discussion on the 20/20 thing because I just got new glasses two weeks ago and had to do the whole eye chart thing. I guess cause I've never asked, but didn't know how that 20/20 thing worked. Thanks for clearing that all up man. You're very helpful.
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