Vision Spots

OVERVIEW:

Most drivers acknowledge that they have blind spots. That acknowledgement carries over into life. Having blind spots acknowledges that one does not perceive the entire picture, the entire truth, but perhaps only 85% of the entire picture.

I contend that we actually have vision spots whereby we only perceive a fraction of the entire picture. Yet often we develop our conclusions based on the assumption that we understand the issue, with the caveat of a few blind spots. This is particularly true in relationships such as between a teacher and a student. When the student asks for the teacher’s insight into what on earth is God doing, or perhaps how to overcome a personal struggle, many teachers give confident advice assuming they have understood 85% of the issue. Yet they may be providing firm direction based on only a few vision spots. Because they do not take the energy to search out a fuller understanding of the issue, their student often slink into the shadows to conceal their unfixable problem.

NOW FOR MORE:

As I sat at the table in the Kyiv apartment, I was handed a bowl of oatmeal. In the center of the table was a ‘sugar’ bowl. I pulled it over and dipped into it with the spoon and spread it on my oatmeal. Then I noticed curious looks from others at the table. Turns out that the ‘sugar’ bowl was actually salt. I don’t recall what happened to that bowl of oatmeal.

Later, I flew 1st class from Kyiv, Ukraine into the Crimea. Now 1st class on in-country flights were sets of seats facing each other with a table between them. Coach was the typical seats facing the front of the airplane. This was all new to me and I did not speak Russian nor Ukrainian and there was no one else onboard that spoke English. Friends had bought my ticket and led me to the plane and others were picking up this bewildered guy on the other end. My 1st class seat allowed a clear view of the wing and propellor.

Apparently, one of the 1st class amenities is being served a full meal on a tray. Like any good meal, this one had a small side salad along with some condiment packets on the tray. One was white and had pictures of vegetables on it but nothing I could read. I tore it open and the contents were white and creamy so I proceeded to squeeze it over my salad. Then I noticed the looks and saw another opening his packet and squeezing it into his tea. It was cream. I still ate the salad.

When in a foreign culture like Ukraine, I had only a few vision spots and depended on others to lead me through those aspects of my visit which I could not discern. After a while, I did start to decipher some of the names at the metro stops. But my blind spots are not limited to traveling in foreign countries.

A few years earlier, I discovered why so few people do things the way I do them - which is obviously the right way. After taking the Myers-Briggs assessment, I discovered that there are about 16 distinct personality types that differ in the way they sort out issues, in the way they recharge, and in the way they process decisions and the moral implications. Suddenly, my way was not always the right way, or the most efficient way. In fact, in certain situations, what I perceived as the best way to do something resulted in devastation and offended people.

After learning about these 16 personality types, the training introduced the absurd concept of learning to appreciate and capitalize on the differences in personalities and talents of others. My confidence in doing everything my way was waning as I started to realize that any success in doing it my way would only have a narrow impact. With an INTJ-T personality type, assuming that I see the full picture with a few blind spots is hazardous to any endeavor. Now, being partially aware of my limited vision spots, I draw on the experience and knowledge of others, such as those who understand the language and culture, in hopes that their vision spots will integrate with mine and provide a fuller picture leading to better results.

Similarly, one only has vision spots in perceiving how God is working in others as well as in their own lives. Yet often, many of us, including me, are arrogant enough to think that we can fully understand what God is doing to expand His kingdom in the world. How many people have you met who are angry with God because of the pain and disappointment He dropped on their life, often decimating their dreams? And since they cannot understand, they simply walk away or adopt a religion they can understand.

I used to be one of those who needed to know what Father was up to. In my mid-teens, I would take walks at night under clear skies and ask over and over and over, “Why God are you allowing the abuse my family suffers.” About ten years later, I found myself walking alongside others who had also survived abusive homes. Being there myself, I could guide them in forgiving and healing. Because of my experience, I was able to coach them on how not to repeat the abuse with their future family. Although a couple of my vision spots had clarified, I still struggled with how a good and omnipotent Father would allow such pain. My trust in His guidance through those ‘valleys of death’ slowly increased, particularly as I dealt with the death of several college buddies.

Then, in April 1995, Mom called and choked out that my youngest brother had just been killed in an auto accident. He had just celebrated his 29th birthday and was helping an Air Force Physician move. As I flew above the clouds, I remember telling Father that I did not need to understand in order to trust that He IS WORKING ALL THINGS TOGETHER FOR OUR GOOD. (Romans 8:28) This is one of the first times I remember being willing to allow Father to lead me through the darkness without demanding answers to the ‘why’ question.

As my vision spots have increased, I have learned to recognize a bit of what Father is up to in my life and in other’s lives. Some of you may have heard me state that I am detecting Father’s fingerprints on little changes in another’s life or in a coincidental encounter.

What about you? Are you comfortable being led by Father through the darkness between your vision spots? And are you competent to lead another through their darkness as Father leads you?

I will close with this admonition. Too often I find brothers who are endeavoring to encourage and lead others with the advice that worked for them. But often those that seem to have it all together do not acknowledge that they only have vision spots. As a consequence, I have met many who are endeavoring to love and follow Jesus sheltering in the shadows because the advice they were given was not providing the victory they craved. Would it surprise you that much of my life has been cowering in the shadows? Since the ‘sound advice’ did not bring the victory I sought, I often assumed that the problem was me, unfixable me.

Now, being painfully aware of my limited vision spots, when guiding others, if what has worked for me does not work for them, I explore the dark areas I do not immediately see. I work to listen to the Spirit and to them. Remaining loyally by their side, we explore the darkness and often bump into a piece of their life that leads to a key issue that was never considered.

I urge you brothers, that if what worked for you is not working for another, please, do not shrug your spiritual shoulders and wish the other well as you step away from the path on which they are struggling. Consider how Jesus, the only one with full vision, continues to walk with you through healing and refinement.