Have you ever wondered or imagined what it might be like to not be able to see? The ability to see is one of the greatest gifts and senses we have as human beings. There are approximately 191 million people who can’t see. There are a staggering 2.2 billion people around the world who have some form of visual impairment. I am one of those.
The gift of sight is one we may take for granted. I know I have, but not so much for the last 14 years and certainly not in the past few weeks. Many of you are aware of my recent retina problems, but my eye issues actually began over 40 years ago. It was then that I was told that I have something called Lattice Syndrome. This means the retinas in my eyes are thin and filled with holes making them resemble a piece of lattice.
My issue never caused me any significant problems until about 14 years ago. Then I began to see gnats and flashes of light that weren’t actually there. The retina in my left eye had developed multiple tears. This forced me to undergo multiple surgeries over the next year to repair retina and macula damage in that eye.
The retina in my right eye remained intact until a few weeks ago when I was informed that it had detached. The initial diagnosis was that my retina had completely separated and that I would likely be legally blind in that eye. I spent that first night wondering what changes were about to take place for me. I also wondered if my other eye would continue to be okay and if there was the possibility of total blindness one day.
For the next few days, I considered what it might be like to be blind. I prayed. I prayed for my eyes, and I prayed for the millions of people who are blind.
After that diagnosis, and before my surgery, I had a strange experience partly due to my limited eyesight. With over half of my vision in my right eye blocked by my detachment, and not great vision in my left eye, I did not see the huge rat snake. He was relaxing on the rail around our back porch. The top of the rail is a 2×6 board that is about waist high. It is painted dark grey, about the same color as the rat snake.
Even though our uninvited guest was probably 6 feet long, I did not see him when I stepped out onto the porch. I reached for the rail and almost put my hand right on him before I realized he was there. I may have said something spiritual, or possibly not, as I jumped back. I lost my balance and fell against the back door. Obviously, I had not closed the door completely, because it slammed open, banged against the wall, and knocked off its curtain. I almost needed a dry pair of pants! The snake just laid there…perhaps laughing at the silly man.
I am thankful that my guest was not a rattlesnake! I am also most thankful for the gift of sight…even poor eyesight. I give thanks to God for the many beautiful sights around much of the world I have been blessed to see, as well as the dangerous things I have seen in time. I give thanks for my saved vision and am now praying for complete restoration of my sight. I do plan to see the people in my life clearly again and much more of this big, beautiful world we live in.
Thank you all for your prayers!
Bill King can be reached at bkpreach@yahoo.com.
