I Want To See

I love it when my bathroom is clean. When it sparkles, shines and smells fresh. Now I don’t like the process to get it that way. The scrubbing. The wiping. The sanitizing. I like the end result the best. 

One day, I was standing admiring my clean bathroom. Enjoying the moment, because let’s face it, it doesn’t last. When I happened to look in the mirror and saw in the reflection something on the ceiling.  I turned around and looked up. Sure enough. There it was.

A cobweb! Trailing from the ceiling vent to the corner of the wall. Draping there like a fancy garland any spider would probably have been proud of. How could that be! How could I have missed seeing that? 

Then I remembered last fall, around October, a friend and I were riding back from our church picnic. I saw what looked like tiny spider web lines trailing from the power line. The sun was low and shining just right. The thin silver ‘web lines’ glistened in the light. Then I looked at the other side of the road and those power lines had them too! I pointed them out to my friend and she could see them too! We had never seen anything like it before. It’s amazing when your eyes are open to things you didn’t see before. 

There are many stories in the Bible where Jesus heals people who are blind. But there is one story that really spoke to me today. You can find it in Mark 10:46-52. 

There is a man named Bartimaeus and he is blind. He is sitting on the roadside outside of Jericho begging. When he hears that Jesus is coming his way. He shouts, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (vs. 47) I love his boldness to shout at Jesus. To call out loudly above the crowd to get his attention. 

The passage goes on to say that others around Bartimaeus told him to be quiet, but this made him shout even more! “Son of David, have mercy on me!” (vs. 48) Bartimaeus is persistent. He ignores the advice of those around him. He hasn’t seen Jesus perform any miracles, but he must have heard stories and accounts. He knows he needs Jesus. 

Then Jesus stops and tells his disciples to “call him.” (vs. 49) They do. Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. (vs. 50).  Can you just picture his excitement? His enthusiasm! He gets to go see Jesus! Jesus heard him! Jesus wants to see him! 

“What do you want me to do for you? Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. (vs. 51-52) 

I can picture Bartimaeus jumping with joy and wonder at all he can see! I can almost feel his gratitude to Jesus as he followed him along the road. 

As I reflect on this story, I am calling out too. 

I want to see too, Jesus!  I want to see good in this situation we are all placed in right now. I want to see you in the midst of our struggles. I want to see you at work in our lives now when our future seems so veiled from our eyes. 

I want to see. 

What are you calling out to Jesus for?

Dear Lord, please open my eyes to see your love and goodness in our world. Help me to not be blind to those who need help. Please show me how I can encourage and support others while still being healthy for myself and for them. Please help me to be bold in my faith. To call out to you and express my need. Being confident that you will hear me and call me to come close to you. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.