Today I’m so excited to have my good writing pal, Jeanne Takenaka, on my blog! Jeanne and I met through My Book Therapy and the blogosphere, and in person for the first time at the American Christian Fiction Writers conference last year in Dallas. We’ll be rooming together at an upcoming MBT retreat. She’s super sweet and I’m super excited she’s here!
“Hello, my name is Jeanne. I’m a forty-something, and I’m afraid to go to the eye doctor.”
Because I am certain this will be the visit where the good doctor says, “You’re going to need some glasses. Here’s your prescription. Take two lenses and call me in the morning.”
Okay, he may not say those exact words, but I know glasses are in my near future. I now need brighter light to read those impossibly small ingredient lists on the back of food packaging. My elbows get lots of exercise as I move them further out and then closer in to focus on the fine print on labels. It seems like it was only last month when they were simple to read.
My glasses-free days are numbered.
That got me thinking about my spiritual eyes. Do I ever need “glasses” to help me see situations in my life more clearly? As I thought about when my eyes have trouble seeing through the proper lens, I realized sometimes, unforgiveness blurs my vision. When I am angry with someone, when my feelings get hurt, it is easy for me to see everything in my life through the lens of pain.
Just as an ophthalmologist helps my physical eyes see better with a lens correction, so God enables me to view people and cirucmstances as they really are by adjusting my perspective.
But, I must be willing to give Him my current glasses–hurt and anger–and ask Him to change my heart toward the person who caused it. It takes time for that shift to occur, but if I will leave the situation in His hands, God is always good about making the fix.
Your Turn: What are your thoughts on glasses? When have you had a perspective adjustment that helped you to “see” better?
Jeanne Takenaka writes women’s fiction that deals with real life issues with a heart to draw women closer to God and to those around them. She is wife to one amazing man who is her real life hero, and mother to two exuberant boys who hope to one day have a dog of their own. She loves being God’s girl, always learning about His grace, hanging out with friends, and enjoying a great cup of coffee. She and her family live near the mountains of Colorado. She is a member of ACFW and My Book Therapy Voices. You can connect with her on Facebook, Twitter (@JeanneTakenaka), and her blog.
Regualar visits to the Eye Doctor (Jesus)is so beneficial. The eye is the lamp of the soul! I need a good correction often. Great post, Jeanne! Ya'll have fun at MBT!
You're so right, Jessica. Jesus is the BEST Eye Doctor. We'll have fun. I wish you were going.
In the midst of busy, I need to remember for often to turn to Jesus! You are right, he's the best eye doctor!
I need to be reminded to turn to Him too, especially when the kids are testing, and giving me opportunities to adjust my spiritual eye sight. 🙂
I love my spiritual eye doctor! I'm not a fan of the real one. I'm very vain. 🙁
Love this take on forgiveness and "right eyes," Jeanne!
(Have a great weekend, Lindsay!)
Jill, I'm with you. I saw the ophthalmologist yesterday. He's not soooo bad to work with, but Jesus is best. 🙂
Lindsay, before I forget again, thanks so much for inviting me here today. You are such an encourager!
I had to get glasses in third grade. I still remember putting them on for the first time and looking around in amazement…I totally hadn't realized I couldn't see before! I still wonder how I made it through those early years without realizing everything was a blur. Haha! Very thankful for contacts, though. Glasses never sit straight on me. 🙂
I love it when God shifts my perspective. I think a lot of times it happens in those days when my own stresses–the day job or lack of sleep–seem so huge. Usually he'll do something to remind me that, dude, it's not all about me!
You know, Melissa, I used to wear my sister's glasses so my eyes would need them. Pretty sad that I didn't realize what a gift good vision was as a young girl. 🙂
And for the record, you're right. God often shifts my perspective and He's flat out said to me, "It is NOT all about you." Sigh. I'm so glad He speaks the truth to me. 🙂 And still loves me.
I have astigmatism in one eye and near-sightedness in the other…together they make 20/20 eye sight. Yay!
I take that to mean even though we are flawed, together with Christ we can do a mighty work.
No glasses needed…yet. I'm sure they are in my future.
Great post, Jeanne!
I love your thoughts, Ruth. "Though we are flawed, together with Christ we can do a mighty work." Great truth there.
Oh, and for the record, I have an astigmatism too. Yep, I just found out yesterday. Unfortunately, I did end up picking out a pair of glasses yesterday–but they're readers for when I work on the computer or read. I'll be "there" to give you a hug the day you finally hear you need glasses 🙂
Such a vivid truth, Jeanne! I love your sense of humor — and yet you wove in spiritual truth that will stay with more for days to come.
Thank you, Beth. You've done the same for me, many times–woven humor and truth together in a way that sticks. 🙂
Yes, I definitely think I'm at the point where I need new glasses–all the time spent looking at computer screens doesn't help your eyes much!
And I love the idea of taking the situations to God and leaving them in His hands. Hard to do.
He-he, Heather. My eye exam surprised me yesterday. Glasses will be a good thing. 🙂 And, yes, it is difficult to leave some situations in his hands. I find the ones that matter the most to me are the ones I have the hardest time leaving in his care. 🙂 I'm still growing in that area.
Yay, Jeanne! It's so nice to see you here. 🙂 I've just recently been given a prescription for reading glasses, which I haven't filled, yet. I know I need them, because when I stay focused on one thing for too long (my writing or reading), my vision becomes blurred and I have a hard time focusing on other things in my life that are just as important. Isn't that true about God, too? When I spend too much time focusing on things like my pain or troubles, it's hard for me to bring my focus back to Him.
Thanks for the welcome, Gabrielle. 🙂 I know what you mean about what happens to my vision when I focus on my problems or pains, it gets skewed and blurry. When I look at them through the lens of God, they become easier to see with an accurate perspective.
I'm able to see a whole 6, that's SIX inches clearly before everything blurs. Then I flail around until my hands find my glasses and I'm all better.
I think sometimes my life is like that too.
I need to focus on my King, and not myself.
Well said, Jennifer. Focusing our King always keeps things in focus. 🙂
Hi Jeanne!
I'm a bit behind on my blog reading, but here I am!
Great post. I do think you should embrace the glasses if they are needed. It will just add to the writer's look. 😉
Also when I have done mission work out of the country, I "see" everything through new eyes. This post reminds me of Brandon Heath's awesome song, "Give Me Your Eyes."