Have you ever had something in your eye that no matter what you did it was still there? You try everything and still it bugs you to the point of asking for help from someone who has a better vantage point. They may not feel the pain or discomfort but they can help because they see what you can’t.
I had that problem the other day. I have vision problems at times due to my health but this time was different, it was due to me being cheap and not wanting to throw away my mascara. I switched to a clean mascara and it works great, never flakes(unless its time to say good bye to it) but it does cost more. Maybe you can see why I was trying to stretch it. If you have ever wanted to stretch the use from mascara you know it can get flaky and those flakes sometimes go into your eye, the fun of makeup.
I was in a hurry, causing me to put my mascara on fast and run out the door blinking as I went because I felt like something might be in my eye. Driving along there was no might or denying it. I definitely had something in it. I had to drive with only one eye while the other one was shut but tears coming down my cheek, yes I looked beautiful. At least I arrived safety at the store. Looking in my mirror I didn’t see anything but I felt what was the size of a boulder in my eye. I blinked, rubbed, blotted but nothing helped. I tried to rub off the mascara on my good eye in hopes I didn’t look as lopsided but of course that didn’t help, instead I just looked like I rolled out of bed crying but into the store pretending all was fine.
I did manage to get my things from the store and back home safe with just my ego slightly bruised.
My face washed, my eye a little better and no mascara this time, giving my poor eyes some much needed rest, and yes the old one finally made its way to the trash. I started thinking on how sometimes we act as if everything is fine even when its obvious we aren’t.
Why do we all seem to have that in common? We all say we are fine when asked but inside we are falling apart.
On the morning of my mascara flake I read this passage, coincidence?
Mark 8:22-26 22They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 23He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” 24He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” 25Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.”
I always thought how odd that Jesus healed the man but his vision was askew at first. I never got it until the day with the mascara. Just like the blind man that was able to see but didn’t see correctly. That is until Jesus asked how he was and the man was honest telling exactly how he was. He didn’t hold back but told Jesus everything, not just being grateful to see but the weird, different, strange parts too. In turn the man got the full healing.
What would it be like if we were all a little honest with how we really are. Notice the man didn’t start complaining and telling Jesus how he messed up but instead just honest with what was going on. Maybe the man would have lived the rest of his life seeing people as trees if he kept quite.
A lot can be said on being honest. You have to open up and be vulnerable, but think of the healing and blessing we miss keeping our problems to our selves.