How Losing My Sight Has Helped Me to See More Clearly
This is NOT another blog about General Conference!
BUT at the beginning of May, the General
Conference of the United Methodist Church met to review and make
decisions regarding the our now, truly, global denomination. Every
four years, UM pastors and lay people from around the globe gather to
reflect, pray, work and provide leadership for our denomination for
the next four years. It is hard work but it is good work. But every
time emotions and reason tend to go to battling each other. I want
to encourage you to visit UMC.org and learn more.

Jim Wallis, founder of The Sojourners, said at a conference I attended,
“Faith is personal but it isn't private.” How true! What the
Holy Spirit is doing in our lives, effects the Kingdom of God, even
in the smallest of ways. It is so easy to dis-count ourselves and
our lives in comparison to God, though we have no problem in puffing
out our chests regarding our importance to our small, tiny, personal
kingdoms (like vocations, family, hobbies, etc). But Jesus taught us
the very opposite. Jesus described it saying, “...
if
you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this
mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing
will be impossible to you. (Matthew 17:20).”
I must say thank you for the faith
and prayers of so many here at Cumming FUMC who have focused on God's
Kingdom . Not only have I seen the power and faithfulness of the
prayers in other people's lives, I have experienced it in my own.
During the first weeks of February, as I lost vision in my right eye,
the Intercessory Prayer Ministry and the church began praying. As
the vision got worse and my doctors continued searching for an
answer, your prayers continued and I began receiving cards and notes
from far and wide. I received an incredible camoflauge blanket from
the Happy Knotters and Prayer Shawl ministry that reminds me daily of
the prayers of God's people.
What was hardest during these days
was not having a diagnoses. I kept asking, “God, please just let
me know what is going on!” In April, I received a diagnosis that I
have a vascular disease effecting my optical nerve. A blockage
occurred in the veins going to my optical nerve that caused the
swelling (the disease is called Ischemic Optic Neuropathy) and
subsequent vision loss. It shouldn't get any worse but then there is
also no treatment for my vision loss.
So
while there has been no improvement in my vision, I have found a
dramatic improvement in my spiritual vision that was unexpected. I have seen and heard God in so many places. One of those places was in my recent sermon series which has been based on our upcoming Vacation Bible
School theme, “Sky: No Matter How You Feel...Trust God!” It is
the story of Daniel. On the day he got word that his prayers to God
were outlawed by King Darius, he didn't stop praying, nor did he
increase his prayers, “...he
knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave
thanks before his God, as
was his custom
since early days. (Daniel 6:10).”
As
we move into the summer months, what “customs,” what habits are
you performing or setting aside to seek after God? Don't stop! And
let me encourage you, if you aren't sure about trusting God, get out there and take part and take part in VBS (especially if your church is doing SKY). Here at Cumming FUMC, I will be helping at VBS all
week, June 4-8 (I can't wait) telling Daniel's story and the stories of others who trusted God.
You see, I've got this tiny faith and I need to trust more. Won't you join me on that journey?