The Ulcer
Matthew 7:3-4 Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and
pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother,
let me take the speck out of your eye, when all the time there is a plank in
your own eye? NIV
My collie Belle has collie eye anomaly which permanently affects her vision. I
thus closely monitor both her behaviour and the visible health of her eyes in
order to detect further vision problems which may be developing. Not long ago
one of her eyes began to weep. A few days later I loaded her into the truck and
headed to the vets.
At the clinic the vet froze and administered dye to Belle's eye to highlight any
foreign bodies or disease. We were both shocked to discover a large ulcer.
Coupled with her existing eye anomaly her vision was completely blocked.
Eye anomaly and ulcerated eyes are not only limited to collies however. Jesus
speaks about a spiritual vision condition which we could perhaps term as human
eye anomaly. An anomaly is something abnormal or irregular, a deviation from the
rule. When it affects the spiritual eye of human beings it makes it easier for
us to see the distortions, inconsistencies, and faults in others while often
overlooking our own. Left unchecked this anomaly may progress to complete
ulceration and spiritual blindness.
The only way to ensure clear spiritual vision, as Christians, amidst human eye
anomaly is to schedule regular appointments with the Great physician Jesus
Christ. Taking time to be quiet and submissive in his presence through
disciplines such as prayer, bible study or mediation allows him time to
scrutinize our inner thoughts and mindsets through the highlighting flow of his
love and mercy; love and mercy which has the power to reveal and set to right,
as much as possible, any spiritual distortions therein and prevent further
spiritual eye disease or deterioration from occurring.
Belle's sight is gradually improving. It appears that soon her vision will once
again be as clear as possible, but what about my vision today, what about yours?
Is our human eye anomaly being monitored carefully by the Great physician, that
we might be seeing others as clearly as Jesus sees them? Or has neglect of
routine spiritual eye checkups caused an ulceration in the form of a judgmental
and critical attitude to block the way we see those around us?
Prayer: Father God grant us power today that we might be open and willing to
receive clearer spiritual vision. May we see others through the perfection of
your spiritual eyes. Heal us from any and all judgmental and critical attitudes
toward others that the highlighting flow of your love and mercy may enlighten
the world around us. In Christ's name we ask. Amen.
Lynne Phipps
Atlin, BC lynnephipps@hotmail.com