My day was jammed pack, so my walking shoes laced up early. Thus, neither the usual school buses nor customary people crossed my path. However, as I approached a straight away segment of my route, I discerned a man in the distance. For some reason, I was locked on his gait. It seemed unusual. My initial reaction wondered if it was the old professional coach coming out in me. There I was trying to analyze his awkward form, when I sensed the Lord telling me to forget technique and stare down message and meaning. Woah!! My assessment needed a shift to discernment.
Since becoming the recipient of one total knee and two total hips, speed is not an adjective defining my daily hikes. However, I did charge up my afterburners to gain proximity to the lesson God was sending. I knew closing the gap was needed for me to receive, and perceive, this heaven-sent wisdom.
As I closed the separation between us, I deciphered the gent’s hands were not empty. His right one held what I presumed to be a walking stick, and his left was lugging a bag. My guess was he wasn’t a spry chicken; but he, also, wasn’t an ancient rooster. I placed God’s messenger in the 65 to 70 age range. At this point, my conjecture was twofold. The man, who was leading me to God’s message, was unusual in that he was carrying around a bag on a walk, and he definitely needed more skill in how to use a walking stick. That thing was moving all over the place and certainly not affording him the balance and support intended for its use.
I needed to completely close the gap. Since my anatomy lacks wings, I used the one superpower I possess. I prayed. Lord, get me closer.
Just as the object of my attention was turning towards the entry gates to his home subdivision, I reached proximity to clearly observe God’s message. The walking stick was not the run of the mill. It was white, designating the child of God holding it was blind. The bag clutched in this messenger’s hand was an oxygen carrier.
Though caught off guard at that moment, I realized God’s message was delivered. A blind man, struggling to breathe on his own, was capable of (and did, indeed) reach the gate surrounding his home destination. Deciphering the meaning, now, became the mystery challenge. Instantly, God directed my thoughts from the man, himself, to all of Christain humanity — especially, myself.
In today’s Sodom and Gomorrah world, I (we) walk blindly through the darkness. Only inner light, the Holy Spirit illuminating my (our) soul, directs my (our) course. I (we) depend not on the oxygen of a polluted planet’s air, but the breath of the Holy Spirit alone to saturate my (our) being with life. Clutching onto God as my (our) lifeline is not baggage I (we) lug around but the coffer of my (our) life’s Saviour, whom I (we) choose never to let go of.
My (our) Heavenly Father sent a blind man to help me (us) see that by relying on the Holy Spirit to be my (our) breath of life and grasping God’s hand as my (our) walking stick, the way to Heaven’s gate is navigated by faithfully walking through all worldly darkness.
“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’.” John 8:12 (ESV)
Uplifted in a Broken Down World 