Now we see a reflection in a mirror; then we will see face-to-face. Now I know partially, but then I will know completely in the same way that I have been completely known. – 1 Corinthians 13:12

If you pay attention to such things you will have noticed a new heading, or title, for this blog. I thought seriously about using the “Year of Living Gratefully” idea from January 1 but finally settled on my four words from Advent – Light, Grace, Invitation & Promise.

My intention, in a nutshell, is to express grateful living through stories and other posts that are bathed in light, full of grace, loaded with invitation, and bursting with promise.

LIGHT:

So Wednesday afternoon I went to pick up my new lenses. Janine, the “optical consultant” handed me the glasses and I put them on.

“What do you see?” she asked.

Talk about bathed in light! Everything was so clear I smiled broadly and let out an involuntary “wow!”

“So I’m that beautiful?” Janine laughed. I should have said, “yes” because of course, she is. But instead of responding I looked all around the room, taking in the clarity, captivated by the light. You see the truth is that everything is beautiful when you truly open your eyes, everything is saturated in light once you can see clearly, everything has more definition, more depth, more meaning.

Eyes Open:

That’s how I feel Wednesday evenings when I meet with the men’s Bible study I help lead. I feel like my spiritual eyes are healed just a little more and I can see that much farther into my own soul, into the enormity that is God, and into my friends.

I believe it is no coincidence that Paul concludes his thoughts on love (1 Corinthians 13) with an observation about seeing (you see what I did there, right?!). “Now we see a reflection in a mirror; then we will see face-to-face. Now I know partially, but then I will know completely in the same way that I have been completely known….”

The cliché “Love is blind” is completely wrong. Instead, rather than obscure, love creates clarity. It is not poor eyesight that enables us to perceive beauty but clear vision. Truth is always more attractive than ignorance. In the same way, it is love that opens our eyes and gives us the ability to see.

The Bible stories talk of the blind having “scales fall from their eyes” when they met Jesus; it was an encounter with love that removed them.

It will be such an encounter with love that removes ours.

I can see clearly now, the rain has gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It’s gonna be a bright, bright sun-shiny day… (Johnny Nash)

In love, and because of love – DEREK

Writer Derek Maul lives in North Carolina