They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way. Mark 10:46-52
I have often thought, and still often think, about how life might have felt before human ingenuity kicked into gear and produced something helpful. The latest blessing came into my life a couple of weeks ago. It is a little machine that sits next to my bed that regulates my breathing, stops my snoring, and helps me get more rest.
I’m typing into a laptop computer, connected to the Internet, that will send what I write out to desktops, laptops, tablets, and smart phones all around the world. In minutes. Someone, somewhere, might even read what I write this morning – it will feel like I’m talking straight to them. Like a personal message from a complete stranger.
I can see what I’m doing because I’m wearing reading glasses, which I still need despite having had eye surgery ten years ago, which replaced the contact lenses which replaced the glasses which I first got in the 4th grade. I still remember the day that I left Dr. Lindberg’s office into a brand new world. I remember stepping off the curb that suddenly felt three feet high as I looked off into the distance and actually saw the world the way God intended me to see.
The list would get very long if we counted all of the mechanical marvels that have improved our lives since the day that blind Bartimaeus cried out to Jesus for help. We have seen wondrous and wonderful changes that improve human life.
But some things haven’t changed.
There are still voices that call for help even as the crowd tells them to shut up.
And there are still ears that hear those voices and respond with the question that will always feel like blessed rain on parched soil – What do you want me to do for you?
Helen Keller, herself unable to hear, see or speak as a child, lived in silent darkness until the right person showed up in her life to ask that question. What do you want me to do for you? Out of her darkness she emerged to bless the world. She grew to be a teacher, a leader, a speaker, an advocate.
As Helen herself said, “The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.”
May we, who follow the footsteps of Jesus, hear well the voices of those who suffer, responding with compassion, as we are able.
Let us pray: Heal our broken and limited vision, O Lord. Open our ears when we refuse to listen, our eyes when we fail to see. Thank you for those who seek to bless others in real, practical and down to earth ways. May we, so blessed, always follow you, knowing that the footprints before us include those of once blind Bartimaeus. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Daily Devotions 
June 11, 2012 at 6:34 pm |
And all of us who SAY we are God’s children should say “Amen” – then get off our backsides and “just do what needs to be done.” I’m going to try harder!
June 11, 2012 at 9:11 pm |
If I were to list ALL the blessings in my life, it would take longer than I am patient. God has blessed me in so many ways that I couldn’t possibly think of them all.
June 12, 2012 at 2:22 pm |
Thank you, thank you!!! For this walk through Mark. It is such a blessing and your blessed way of driving home points has been helpful to guide us in our daily walk. C-pap user here, too. I tend to not breathe enough when I sleep, so mine actually keeps me alive.
March 22, 2013 at 12:21 am |
Another issue is the fact that a number of people have reported that
snoring chin straps are not all as efficient as they claim to be, but
this is a thing that you will must find out by yourself.
The evaluations about the device are extremely mixed. The wife appears to say that it operates
to a specific extent, however it hasn’t entirely cured the problem. Other people claim that a little bit of adjustment for the chin cup spot, strap length and placement etc. improves the general overall performance in the device.
May 3, 2013 at 4:13 am |
You most likely didn’t understand that alcohol drastically reduces the firmness of one’s muscles.
So when you’re breathing and throat muscles sag on account of alcoholic intake, you might be unable to breathe effectively as the muscles block your airways.