Saturday, January 12, 2013

Presbyopia


I got caught.  I was holding my cell phone at arm's length like a rancid diaper.  Why do I lean away from the menu with my eyes agape, like the blue-plate special is a cat?  Would you believe I just might have presbyopia?  I know what you are thinking but it is not a religious disease that only Presbyterians catch.  Yes, Presbyterians may come down with it, but Baptists, Methodists, Catholics, Lutherans, Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists are equally susceptible.

I have learned that Presbyopia is a common eyesight problem.  It comes from presby (meaning "elder/older man) and opia meaning "eye" or "having to do with eyesight").  It is the slow deterioration of close-up focus.  I am certainly not an ophthalmologist or optometrist.  My little bit of internet research (now that's reliable right?) tells me that Presbyopia develops when the clear lens of the eye loses its elasticity.  Elasticity changes focus, and focus determines whether I order sirloin steak or shrimp scampi.

 Yes, I got caught.  I was trying to make out the caller ID, and trying to read a menu.  Even with bifocals I hold my reading material like God never gave me elbows.  A few years ago my wife treated her eyes to a laser. 

She now treats her progressive presbyopia with inexpensive reading glasses.  We both juggle not four eyes but six.  She more than me.  She stashes several pairs of cheap readers in all sorts of places - nightstand, office, couch cushions.  But none of them seem to be around when the cell phone rings or it is time to change the channel on the TV.

 There is a treatment for this.  It is a light beam aimed at the ciliary muscles (the lens focusers).  Apparently after five 10-minute sessions and periodic tune-up treatments, patients report that their glasses are obsolete.  In other words, application of light sharpens focus on the world.  Who would have thought?

There is a guy named Bartimaeus in the Bible who has two strikes against him - he is blind, and he is begging.  In Jesus' culture this was a perfect prescription for being overlooked (no pun intended).

As Jesus passes by, Bartimaeus calls out for mercy.  The crowd rebuked him - and attempted to put Bart back in his place on the food chain.  He had persistence and faith told him that this Jesus fellow was his only chance at sight, so he yelled out even louder. Turns out that Bart is the only person in the crowd who could truly see that day.  Jesus heals him and he receives his sight.  Bart knew what I need to hear every day: Application of Light sharpens our focus on the world.

I have presbyopia in more than one way.  I don't see things clearly or spiritually most of the time.  A lot of things are still blurry to me.  I need to sharpen my vision.  I have Baptisopia - others have Methodyopia, Lutheropia and so on.

This week is a time that has been set aside to pray for victims of Human Trafficking and for those who participate in this appalling, disgusting slavery. 


When life gets fuzzy, I need focused Light.


The anti-human-trafficking agency Not For Sale reports that there are more than 30 million slaves in the world today.  That's more slaves than were kept at the height of the transatlantic slave trade in the 1800s.  Lest you think this kind of thing only takes place in countries other than the good old US.


My Christian view of God recognizes that every person is made in the image of God.  Life is valuable.  This is certainly an issue that needs more Light application for more focus. The coming of Jesus means Light into dark places (John 1:5).  Bartimaeus knew that day and screamed out in faith and received his sight.  For Bart, there was only one way to get sight: Apply Light to sharpen his focus on the world.



I confess I too often have blurred vision when it comes to issues.  For me and my blurred vision the answer is the same:  "Apply Light."  My prayer is that I will have renewed courage to learn from Bart.  I pray that I will be able to take the lens of Scripture and Light of Christ and apply them to issues that I don't focus on and don't see clearly.  How about you? Join me.



(I think this website is really cool.  I always wanted to be a trucker)



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