Are we blind to the oppressed among us? Before we can address the oppressed, we must address our vision impairments. We will do this by considering three questions.
Are we blind due to our inattentiveness? Are we blind because we are reluctant to acknowledge our vision is impaired? Are we content to remain blind, even if a cure was available?
We will pick up the discussion of oppression next week in part two of this series.
Are we blind due to our inattentiveness?
There are various reasons why I might be unable to see what others can see.
They may have a better viewpoint. I might have an obstructed view. Maybe I forgot to bring my glasses. Perhaps they were looking for something specific that wasn’t personally important to me.
Often, I do not see what others see because I am inattentive to what is going on around me. My focus was on something else.
Often my inattentiveness was not intentional. But, unless you are showing pictures of the Grand Canyon, it was intended.
There are things that we do not see every day. For example, we almost run a red light. We do not see the car that we cut off on the highway.
Inattentiveness can be dangerous to ourselves and others.
I became aware of my inattentiveness because others told me what I did not see.
But sometimes, it is not a matter of temporary inattentiveness that causes us not to see what others see; we do not see because our vision is impaired.
Are we blind because we are reluctant to acknowledge our vision is impaired?
There are a variety of vision impairments and conditions.
- Complete blindness is a complete lack of light perception and form perception.
- Legal blindness is the ability to see somethings but with severe limitations.
- Color Blindness is when someone cannot distinguish between specific colors like greens and reds, and occasionally blues (Think traffic lights!).
- Night Blindness is vision impairment that occurs at night or in dim light.
- Temporary blindness may be caused by a physical or psychological condition or exposure to a high-intensity light source.
There are a variety of potential remedies for vision impairment.
- Complete or legal blindness may require the use of a human or canine companion or a walking stick.
- Advances in technology are now addressing color blindness.
- Anti-glare polarized driving glasses can treat night blindness, and temporary blindness is usually resolved by resting the eyes.
- Of course, An optometrist may prescribe contacts and eyeglasses to correct and improve vision.
I am often the last person to realize that my vision has changed.
I have worn eyeglasses since the age of 25.
Each year my ability to see grows progressively worse. But the change is so gradual that I am unaware of what is happening.
I will get massive headaches and think that allergies or migraines cause.
Usually, my wife will graciously ask me when was the last time I had an eye exam. Then, of course, I will eventually go to the optometrist and confirm she is right. But I am reluctant to consider that my vision has changed without her prodding.
I ultimately address my potential change in vision because my wife’s persistence overcomes my reluctance to go to the doctor.
Sometimes our impaired vision is a matter of choice.
Are we content to remain blind, even if a cure is available?
For years I considered Lasik surgery. The idea of improving my eyesight was tempting. But at the time, it was relatively new, with unproven long-term results, and my health insurance would not cover the procedure.
Now the years have passed, and the risk-reward is not enough for me to proceed. I admit that I am squeamish about someone placing a laser in my eye.
There are times we are reluctant to take steps to improve our vision.
Maybe we have become comfortable with our limitations. Change is too complicated, and others are meeting my needs.
Or perhaps, we understand that improved vision will result in lifestyle changes, that we will have to change the way we act.
Sometimes, I admit that I prefer not to see the mess on the bedroom floor. But, unfortunately, if you see it in our house, you are required to act on it.
At least, that is what my wife keeps telling me.
When we choose to open our eyes, we will see things we wish we had not seen. But we will see opportunities as well.
Conclusion
Is your vision affected by a lack of focus? Are you willing to admit that your vision is impaired? Are you ready to open your eyes and act on what you see? Then, join us next week as we focus on The Oppressed.
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