Sight, Vision and Understanding

I received a letter yesterday informing me ‘An appointment has been arranged for you to attend Mr Prabhu Virtual Glaucoma Clinic… At James Paget Hospital Eye Clinic Outpatients.

I don’t understand why I need so many capital letters; I do understand that I need the appointment – the hospital have done a good job in retaining my sight.

Yesterday’s Lowestoft Journal said that our ‘tidal wall defences, which will reduce the risk of flooding, are set to be tested this week.’ Following the 2013 floods there has been a lot of work on our town’s flood defences.

I don’t understand how you test flood defences… Will they work? We shall see.

Helen Keller (1880 – 1968) was a world-famous American speaker and author who lost her sight and hearing after an illness when she was just 19 months old.

Through her own disabilities she became a disability rights advocate. She was a suffragist, pacifist, political activist, birth control supporter– a highly influential writer and lecturer.

Hellen Keller said: ‘The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.’

In yesterday’s national press I enjoyed reading about Brentford Penguins FC. Ex-Spurs footballer Allan Cockram has set up a football team for children with Down Syndrome…

There were pictures of David Beckham and his son Romeo visiting them. Beckham saw the team, embraced Alan’s vision, and understood the benefit to the young people involved.

In the old hymn John Newton says ‘I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see’. As a sailor he will have understood navigation – so he knew where he was… but he says he was lost. He saw more of the world than most of us… but he says he was blind.

Newton also said: ‘Let me endeavour to lead you out of yourself; let me invite you to look unto Jesus.’ Newton’s faith, his discovery of ‘Amazing Grace’, that came through ‘looking unto Jesus’, gave him sight, vision, and understanding.