“Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”
–Psalm 119:18
Paul dialed his friend’s number and waited for him to pick up the phone. No formal introductions were needed when he finally did, and Paul spoke in a monotone voice.
“I’m bored. Can we something do out of the ordinary for once? It seems like whenever we get together, we always do the same old thing.”
“So now you’re saying that my company is boring? Am I not good enough for you now?” Todd laughed.
“Exactly!” Paul replied, “But maybe my charm will rub off on you. Anyway, I was wondering if you were going to be home.”
“Just a second,” Todd quipped. “Let me write this down on my calendar.”
But Paul cut in, “If you’re busy, you can throw me out when I come over.”
Since Paul only lived downstairs, and he and Todd had become good friends, this wasn’t really a problem. Putting his jacket on, he hurried out the door, wondering what they could do today.
Paul thought about what he had said to Todd, and sighed. Every time they got together, they usually went out for dinner somewhere. This wouldn’t have been so bad, but Paul was an Uber driver, so he was acquainted with every restaurant for miles.
Downstairs, Paul reached apartment 51 and turned the doorknob. It was unlocked, so Paul let himself in.
Hearing the door, Todd called out, “Is that the repo man? I’m sorry I was late with my car payment again.”
This was a standing joke between the two friends, as Todd was blind and obviously couldn’t drive.
Paul and Todd spoke amicably, and discussed different options for the day. They agreed to go to an amusement park the next day, but they used this afternoon to get ready for their experiment. In order to pull this off, Todd needed to look anxious and apprehensive when approaching the stairs, as well as being schooled on other things by the sighted Paul.
The bus was crowded the next morning, and Todd held onto Paul’s arm for dear life. Mindless chatter filled every corner of the bus, as people went about their daily business.
Then, all at once, Todd’s scream pierced the air like a knife as he feigned slipping and falling. Activities which seemed to be so important a second earlier ceased, and a tomb-like silence hovered as passengers gasped.
Most got out their cell phones to photograph and text about the event, but one man got up to help. However, Paul waved him away, pretending to growl tersely.
“Don’t bother, mister,” Paul admonished the would-be assistant. “My friend just wants attention. That’s what he always does.”
But getting up rapidly, Todd snapped, “I do not! I want the window seat!”
The two began to argue right there. Finally, they made their way back to their seats. People’s mouths hung open as the two men passed in the aisle, and many passengers patted Todd’s arm and gave him other patronizing reassurances.
Once they got to their seats, Paul whispered to Todd about the people’s reactions, and the two friends shared a conspiratorial snicker.

While I wouldn’t recommend doing this if you have a friend who is physically blind, the Bible presents all of humanity as being blind to God’s truth. You may think that since you can see through a window clearly, you are okay spiritually. If that’s the case, please take a look at God’s Word and think again.
The apostle makes it clear that we all see through a glass darkly, and that we need to ask God to open our eyes. But you might be asking what that really means in your daily life. So let’s discuss the ramifications it has for us.
Asking God to open our eyes means being able to look through new windows of opportunity. But opening these windows requires careful and prayerful examination of God’s Word.
This examination will cause you to ask how God can mold and shape you into a person who lives for His glory. This is of the utmost importance, because once you’re living to please God, all else will fade away. We try and fill our lives with trinkets that don’t satisfy us, when God is the only true source of satisfaction.
Secondly, allowing God to touch our hearts through study of athe scriptures opens the windows of opportunity when it comes to the childlike faith Jesus spoke about. You will find that attempting to become childlike may be equated with traveling a path of freedom. As we all know, life can be cumbersome, and the childlike person is one who attempts to put their trust in God, rather than letting feelings or circumstances rule our days.
Scripture says that God is the only one who can see around the corners of life, so allow Him to straighten the crooked places in your life, and lead you through new windows of opportunity.
Thank you for reading this, and may the Lord give you a wonderful week! We are trying to reach people who are hurting, so if God lays it on your heart, please consider becoming a partner with us. If you would like to make a donation, please visit www.hcmachaplains.org and click on the Donate Now link. You can also send donations by mail to HCMA (Healthcare Chaplains Ministry Association). Our ID number is 560. The address is 101 S Kraemer BLVD, Suite 123A, Placentia, CA 92870.
Finally, you’re always welcome to join our Tuesday night Bible study. These studies are conducted by conference call, and they take place at 6:30 PM Arizona time. Our conference number is 313-209-8800. Our PIN is 8699032. We hope to talk with you soon!
If you have questions, comments or prayer requests for Timothy or Stephanie Burdick, please call 507-369-6861.