Matthew 6:22-23
“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if the eye is sound, the whole body will be full of light; so, if your eye is not sound, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is the darkness.”
Contrasts of darkness and light as well as vision and blindness fill this passage. So, I turn to Eugene Peterson for his paraphrase in “The Message.” “Your eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief your body fills up with light. If you live squinty eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dark cellar. If you pull the blinds on your windows, what a dark life you will have!”
First, I see that I have a choice. I can pull the blinds, or choose to let the light in and see the world and my options for behavior. can choose to believe in God’s goodness and love, or I can go “squinty eyed” into the world. I can choose blindness, or I can choose to see.
Seeing is very important to me since I struggle with Macular Degeneration. The threat of losing my eyesight completely is very scary. Light is critical and makes all the difference. I want to keep the blinds open. I want to avoid the traps of greed and disbelief and do everything I can to keep my sight. Living in wonder and belief, in the light, is far more appealing than living in a dark cellar!
-Debbie Miller