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Good morning. A few years ago I lost the ability to see due to an inherited condition. Fortunately, within 48 hours I’d begun the treatment that preserved my sight.   The problem recurs, but now that I know there’s help available, I won’t be as frightened as I was that first time when something I’d taken for granted was suddenly gone.

In my personal crisis I realised how dependent I was on the contributions of many people – strangers to me   ̶   whose work in medical research, nursing and administration gave me back my sight. 

I needed a lot of help from eye specialists and when I was trying out various types of lenses I noted how my ability to read the chart of letters ahead of me depended on which lens was popped in front of my eyes.   One lens blurred things, another sharpened my focus a bit and so on. 

It’s the same kind of routine for most people having an eye test but, actually, on those occasions, it gave me the chance to take a critical look at myself.  I realised that often I see people as though I’m looking at them through one lens or another. If I look at someone through the lens of hostility I read everything they do in that light. Or through the lens of self-absorption – I’m not actually seeing the other person well because my own worries or insecurities cloud my vision and my relationships suffer.

I want to see everyone with clear eyes.  I believe that God who created me lives in me so I try to stay in touch with God in me and to look for him everywhere in his creation, especially in people.

Creator God, may love be the lens through which we see the world that you made. Help us to remove everything that blinds us to the needs of our neighbours and of your creation, so that we see how much we depend on each other and how much we have to give to each other. Help us to see you in each person we meet.

Amen.