Orthoptists, Fools and Faith

Around the age of forty my eyesight started to deteriorate. I went to the opticians, to my friend Martin. Martin explained to me that he’s an optometrist. Trained to examine and test my eyes, he could detect defects in my vision. The optician would advise and sell me glasses. I understood.

More recently I was referred to the hospital and met ophthalmologists – trained doctors that specialise in eye diseases, who diagnose, prescribe treatments, and perform operations. Yesterday, when at the hospital for my check up, I saw a sign,  ’orthoptist’. That’s a new one! Apparently orthoptists are experts in diagnosing and treating defects in eye movement…

I see!

Yesterday I read about Paul McCartney writing ‘Fool on the Hill’:

Day after day, alone on a hill
The man with the foolish grin is keeping perfectly still…

…But the fool on the hill sees the sun going down
And the eyes in his head see the world spinning around.

McCartney wrote it about the Maharishi – who at the time was the Beatles spiritual advisor. ‘He’s a person who is open to ridicule because of his beliefs, but his beliefs may well be right… he may be related somehow to the truth-telling fool in King Lear. He’s the calm spiritual optometrist who, seeing things and people as they truly are, can examine and test others.

During advent, people throughout the world reflect on ancient prophecies, speaking of one who will come: ‘…to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.’ … the spiritual ophthalmologist, orthoptist, who can diagnose, treat and heal physical and spiritual sight.

This morning I read St Paul: ‘We live by faith, not by sight’. Hmm?! St Paul also said: ‘The foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom…’

…I’m musing on wisdom, spiritual vision, the baby who came to open blind eyes, to enable us to see things and people as the truly are, truth-telling foolishness, and faith.