I was talking to some new Christians the other day. They were all talking about the changes they had already gone through since accepting Christ as their Lord and Savior, and I mentioned that one of the changes in me when I had been "reborn" was that I had started developing "New Eyes". "There are none so blind as those that cannot see" used to be one of my uncle's favorite sayings. -It simply means that some times we are so busy looking at the forest that we can't see the trees!

-For those new brothers and sisters, I am re-introducing the original blog about "New Eyes". -I hope you all get a blessing out of it!


Every morning after doing my devotionals, I like to go walking. I have only been home for about three months after having been incarcerated for a very long time sixteen years. So for me, this morning walk is a very special time. First, I give thanks to the Father that I am now able to walk freely about when was the last time you thought about that?

This morning I was listening to the breeze as it blew through the trees, and admiring the turning of the leaves as the season slowly turns to fall here in Alabama. As I wandered down our little country road, I also noticed various neighbors as they rushed out to their cars bound for work and school. It saddened me as I noticed that none stopped to admire God s work in nature going on around them this day.

Last night, I went to one of my nieces house to celebrate her mother s birthday. It was a blessing to me to be able to celebrate my sister s birthday with her after all these years, but again, I noticed something that saddened me. My sister has several young children that she baby-sits for not because she has to, but because she loves children. To these four children, she is "Nana". They played all over the house, batted balloons, and got loud and boisterous as only six years old can do. They were just so excited to be able to help celebrate Nana s birthday. On the other hand, all the adults in the room were discussing their children, jobs, church, and problems in their lives. In their eyes, this was just another birthday, just another family function.

I pray that none of you ever have to get locked up to develop new eyes, but I do hope that you read these words and think about how you look at the world. Jesus tells us that those who "do not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it." (Luke 18:17) Do we look at the miracles and blessings that are given to us freely each day with a sense of wonder still, or have we grown so cynical in this high-speed world of technical marvels that we just take what we are given as our due?

Do we marvel as we watch our children play, and as we watch them sleep? They are God s greatest blessing to us do we remember? Do we still reach out in wonder and touch the friend, wife/husband, and mate that God has blessed us with? As we wake to each new day that we were not promised, but that the Lord gave us anyway do we take a deep sweet breath of the morning air, and use it to give thanks to the Lord? As we face another day of stress at work, highway rage, and unpaid bills, do we remember amidst it all to thank the Lord for the job that we have, the car that we drive, and the house, food, and family that created those bills?

My prayer this day, O Lord, is that you bless all your children with new eyes. Give us eyes that see You working in our lives. Take away our cynicism which steals our vision, and use that new vision to also renew the heart within us, so that the lives we live this day be an accurate reflection of all your wonder and grace and of the great love You show us each day. And all of God s children say Amen!

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