Comments on: Observing Lent: Seeing What We’re Missing

By: Dea

Dea — Fri, 31 Mar 2017 14:36:26 +0000

This morning, I went over my highlights in the book “I Told Me So” by Gregg Elshof (forward by Dallas Willard). The book talks about self-deception and the subtle ways we “use” it to reason through to our preferred assessments of life’s circumstances, to protect our tribal identities, and live within narrow perspectives of our own making. I was wondering where in the bible could I find examples of self-deception at work in the lives of people? Then, I read this post. Thank you for fleshing all the various prisms in which the actors in this story show our human tendency to set life’s circumstances within the framework of our story rather than the story of God. Undoubtedly, everyone reading this will find themselves in this story if they are willing to “see.”

By: Ruth Barton

Ruth Barton — Thu, 30 Mar 2017 13:57:02 +0000

In reply to Mark Mixter.

Yes, this a very important question. Reminds me of Isaiah 43: 19 where God says, “See, I am about to do a new thing…” John 9, Acts 15, Is. 43 all point to the fact that spiritual seeing always involves being open to recognizing the new thing God is doing. This will often challenge our existing paradigms–esp. those we rely on to keep us feeling “safe” and comfortable. Lord have mercy!

By: Chika

Chika — Mon, 27 Mar 2017 09:28:34 +0000

This is so apt, Thanks a lot ma’am Ruth, for this insightful teaching. A deeper search for my own blindness, religious and cultural correctness which so blinds one, and fears. O Lord Jesus help me to see Thee more clearly and follow Thee more dearly day by day.

By: Deb Williams

Deb Williams — Sat, 25 Mar 2017 11:03:00 +0000

I so appreciated this reading today!
I couldn’t help but wonder if there aren’t some parallels to our current social and political environment. Are my eyes blinded to what God is and has been doing w/n this context? Am I looking for His healing w/n the limits of my narrow paradigm or experience?
‘Give me ears, to hear you, eyes to see the tracing of your finger, and a heart
quickened by the motions of your Spirit.’ And may I respond in faith and trust to You, Jesus.

By: Angela

Angela — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 18:36:05 +0000

It is amazing how God puts things in out path that shows us the next step on our spiritual journey. As I struggle with some difficult things, I need to pray about my own spiritual blindness and what God wants to do in me to see. Thank you Ruth for your words through which God can touch my heart.

By: Mark Mixter

Mark Mixter — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 17:34:09 +0000

Perhaps one more question –
Am I missing what Jesus is up to now? Everyone seemed to responding based on their understanding of ‘how things are supposed to be on the Sabbath’. Instead Jesus is skewering the, well intention-ed, extra rules/burdens which had been placed on the Sabbath. This Lent I’m asking am I missing what Jesus might be up to – in my life, in my family, in my faith community?
And then the more important questions . . if I am missing this, what is Jesus up to, and why was I missing it?

By: Jon H

Jon H — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 13:20:02 +0000

This story of the blind beggar has so much to teach us about suffering and God’s sovereignty. This man had lived for decades in blindness, pain and poverty just so that his healing could glorify God at a specific time in human history. A seemingly random encounter between the unnamed beggar and the disciples was actually a prearranged display of God’s power which was planned before the foundation of the world. How amazing that this man submitted to the odd requests of a stranger to be smeared with mud. What a thrill it must have been for him to see for the first time and how puzzling that no one celebrated with him. How loving of Jesus to seek this man out because the man did not know what he looked like. I would imagine that this beggar would tell us today that living a thousand lifetimes of seemingly pointless suffering would be a small price to pay in order to meet Jesus face to face. God’s ways are higher than ours.

By: Michael

Michael — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 04:31:11 +0000

blind leaders leading the blind generation. What an irony? This is a message for spiritual leaders of our generation and the bling followers who have not been able to recognize the level of our blindness, and the need to spiritual sight. God help us to seek your healing in our generation for our spiritual blindness.

By: Ruth Barton

Ruth Barton — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 02:32:39 +0000

So grateful for all of you who are willing to ponder these questions today as part of your Lenten journey. It takes courage and you inspire me!

By: Beth

Beth — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 00:05:38 +0000

I spent the day writing about self-examination and how we too often end up with harsh self judgment and even self-condemnation. This piece dovetails with God’s call to practice self-examination as a way to avoid spiritual blindness and cry out to the Father of all compassion who is full of mercy and forgives all of our sins.