The day I had the first cataract removed, I came home and lay down for a while. Sometime that afternoon I got up and went into my kitchen and looked out my window. I was shocked at what I saw. As I looked out of the eye that had just had the cataract removed I was instantly aware that all of the colors were brighter and everything was sharper. I kept taking turns covering one eye, then the other, so I could continue to marvel at the difference between seeing clearly and seeing through opaqueness.
Before I had the cataracts removed, I did not know I was not seeing clearly. I really did not think about it as having a film over my eyes. I got so used to seeing through the opaqueness, I did not even question what I might be missing. Looking at the world through cataracts was a way of life.
Thinking about this reminded me that taking for granted what and how we see, happens to all of us on a daily basis. We grow so accustomed to whatever vision we hold that we don't even question what we might not be seeing or what we might be missing. Or, perhaps we do question, but don't listen for the answers, because to see and know more might upset the apple cart.
Often, life reminds me that I only see the tip of the iceberg, and to think that what I see is "it" is foolhardy. There is a great big world out there just waiting to be seen and discovered. There are truths I have not yet heard of or learned. There are ideas I have not even thought of, let alone formulated.
If, or when, I take the stance that what I see and know is all there is, I am doing myself a grave disservice. That belief closes me off to life and keeps me stuck in my own little world.
It is okay to take the blinders off.
Gratefully, I made a choice quite a few years back to break out of that little box and open my mind and life to more. I came to a place where I was willing to risk being called a fool, to be taken to task for daring to question life and my beliefs, and to walk blindly into what I trusted was a bigger world, My soul longed for clarity and the ability to see the bigger picture.
It was not always easy to lay aside life-long beliefs, even when I saw that they no longer served me. It can still be a difficult task. It was especially hard to question them because I knew they were formed from what my family, church, school, society and culture told me was true.
We are indoctrinated at a very young age as to what to believe, how to think and act, and what is right and wrong. To question what we were taught to believe means to question those who taught us. This can be very daunting, and can cause us to stay stuck in small places with vision that has been dimmed by small thoughts and ideas. Consider this: Many of the ideas and beliefs we hold fast to are not even ours. They were passed on to us by others. Some, we are able to hold loosely, and some we hold on to for dear life. Some of our beliefs are good and righteous, and some are not.
It is good and prudent to question what we are clinging to. Have our beliefs dimmed our vision? Is our vision clouded with bias, prejudice and hate? Are we okay with violence and cruelty? Is our vision dim or is it clear? Cloudy vision creates cloudy thinking. When I see through the eyes of bias or prejudice, I think I am better than others and begin the practice of looking down on those who do not share my cloudy belief. When we do that we shut out growth and learning and limit ourselves to a small, exclusive life.
When we are willing to go beyond what we think we know, so we can know more of what we don't know, our vision increases and the picture gets bigger and clearer. In today's world, where there is so much human suffering, it is imperative that we lay aside our biases in order to develop the understanding that we are all part of the same human family and that love is what matters. We can bless others or we can curse them. We can feel empathy and compassion for others or we can turn our back. We can support others or we can make fun of them. Our actions are determined by our beliefs.
There is so much to know about ourselves, life and each other. Our souls long for light and truth. Our souls long for our lives to be aligned to the truth we know within. My prayer is that we will all open our hearts and minds to largeness and possibility. YOU MATTER!!! WE ALL MATTER!!! Let's take the blinders off.
(Suggested reading: No Man is an Island by John Donne)
A DAILY PRACTICE:
In order to keep my mind and heart open to seeing clearly, I incorporated the following practice into my daily life. After sitting quietly and taking a few deep breaths. I ask creator, "What do I need to see today? What do I need to be aware of in my life and in the world at large?" I pray for the courage to look beyond my habitual way of seeing so I can not only have clearer vision, but also the ability to understand and care for myself and others on a higher and deeper level.
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