One of the defining things about me is the amount of times I’ve been burned. Whether it be a friendship, relationship, co-worker, job. Whatever the situation, I believe it’s safe to say most of us have been hurt by some thing or some one at some point. You can’t help but be shaped by the things with which you’ve come face to face. And so as I was younger, lacking faith and a strong foundation in Jesus, I allowed these events to consume me.

I have plenty of people who have seen the transformation in my life from then to now who could expound on some tales you may have a hard time believing. I was angry, very angry. It fueled my addiction to adrenaline, to danger, and to the hatred of human beings as a whole. You may read that and think that is extreme but without a doubt I hated everyone and if you were in my way or didn’t agree with my view the anger was quick to come to a boil.

Those who I meet now think I’ve always been like this. Some cheery dude with high morals who has never drank or done drugs and has always loved Jesus. Naive in my actions, sheltered in life, unaware of the real world. So it becomes very tough to talk to them as they tend to believe they can’t relate to me.

I’m not perfect, in fact I’m flawed beyond recognition. It’s hard for me to say that or see it in print as I am a very private person but one must expose themselves in order to gain that which seems unattainable.

When I was younger one of my favorite things to do was take my dads eye glasses and put them on. We got such a kick out of this as kids. It contorted the images in the world, making each appear a little different than they really were. Each of these events in our lives warp our perception of reality just like those glasses. They begin to shape us and take hold of us. Before you know it your walking around angry and full of hatred, you refuse to let others in, you reject the idea that Jesus can change lives. I was there. I’ve experienced this.

I was always told as a warning that if I continued to wear those glasses when I didn’t need to that some day I would actually need them. My view of the world would be so contorted that my eyes would not adjust and I would be forced in to seeing through those lenses. The Bible talks about hardening our hearts and rejecting Christ to the point where we will never see the truth, and I think the glasses are a great illustration of that.

This man in Mark 9 was blind, he couldn’t see the world around him. I find it very interesting that Jesus first led him by the hand. The man could not guide himself, he needed help and in his time of need Jesus reached out and put his hand in His and led him. When the world has jaded you, when it’s striped you of the things you thought you knew, when you are hurting, don’t you want someone there to lead you?

Where does He lead him? Outside the city. He doesn’t take him to a crowded bustling city center where there is noise and distraction, but outside the city. I picture this place as quiet and empty. A desert, with nothing around, just him and Jesus. In the stillness he can hear the inflection in Jesus voice. He can hear the sincerity in each word. He can focus on the task at hand. When I’m struggling with something my tendency is to wrap myself up in so many things to distract myself from reality and what Jesus is showing me here is that that is the complete opposite of what I should be doing. I should be taking time to separate myself and spend time with Him. To go to a place of peace and rest with Him and listen. I don’t need to talk, I need to listen. I need his direction.

As they stand outside the city walls Jesus spits on the mans eyes. I love this! He could have just touched him, He could have just spoke the words, maybe kissed him, or anything nicer than spitting but He doesn’t. His eyes were a problem, he couldn’t see. It’s a telling way to deal with a problem. There is something forceful and “in your face” about spitting. And I like the way it’s reflected here. If I have an issue, if something is defining me, holding me back from the place I need to be I need to spit at it. I need to rid myself of it and be done.

“Do you see anything?” Jesus asks. I have this picture of Jesus spitting in the mans eyes and the man wiping the spit away, a little stunned by the action. Wiping it clear as Jesus asks the question he responds, yeah man, I can see people, like trees! He’s excited and maybe he starts walking away thinking wow man, this is cool, I can see. Jesus reaches out and grabs him as he’s starting to leave and says woah, not done yet pal. And as He lays His hands on him again his sight is fully restored. Isn’t that just like us? We finally get to the place where we are seeking Jesus help and He begins to work in and on us and we say SWEET! I can see! And walk away before He’s finished.

He isn’t finished with me. I still continue to walk away every time I can see a little. Don’t let the things of your past(and even your future) define you. Stay steady by leaning on Christ and let Him keep your eyes clear and your hearts full.

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