Hi everyone,

Our second son had a birthday party yesterday, and admittedly, his parties are the most difficult. Not because he likes to be extravagant (he doesn’t). Not because he wants expensive gifts (he doesn’t do this either). And not because he wants to invite the world (he really doesn’t do this and actually puts limits on number of guests himself).

The issue I have is… well… who he invites.

It’s just one kid in particular. I mean, his friends can be as smart as his brother’s friends or kind as his sister’s, but it’s just this one kid that seems to be a bit more… let’s just say… energetic than the rest. Perhaps too much so. Normally I don’t have an issue with that, but when things are getting broken for no reason than he “felt like it” or things (that belong to us or my son) get lost because he “doesn’t know” where they ended up or feelings get hurt and other kids cry because he thought he was “being funny,” well, I just sort of lose a bit of patience and I don’t look forward to being in the same vicinity as him.

I don’t like our son hanging out with him either, to be honest, but I also understand the value of him making his own choices whether I agree with them or not. So I admit I groaned a bit inside when he said he invited this kid. I knew what it was going to be like. I knew what I was going to have to deal with. I knew my eyes were going to roll so hard that I’d be practically looking behind me.

And you know what? That kid matured like no one’s business. He was respectful, polite, maybe even a little pleasant. There were still times when I was annoyed with him (like how he took and kept one of our son’s prizes from the arcade they were at), but I realised that it was just my bias toward him that made me feel that way (our son offered that thing to him and didn’t want to bring it home at all).

People change I guess. Or maybe our perception of them needs to.

These are the readings for this Sunday:
1 Samuel 16:1-13
Psalm 23
Ephesians 5:8-14
John 9:1-41
And a video of them being read:

This is a super familiar story as well out of the gospel reading. Jesus heals a man born blind and instead of rejoicing at the miracle and gracious gift of healing, people question the man. They try to poke holes in the story. They are skeptical of Jesus.

Which is weird, because the man born blind gives an excellent commentary on what happened and how it proves that Jesus is who people say he is as the Messiah, but the powers that be still refuse to believe. They are stuck in their viewpoint. They don’t want to admit that they could be wrong about Jesus, and that they might be able to learn a thing or two about humility and compassion.

So they double down on their assumptions. Hold fast to their opinions. And narrow even further their vision.

Blindness, so it seems, isn’t just about the light entering your eyes translating into images in your brain. But it’s also about light entering your heart and translating into the good news of salvation. We can’t open our own eyes, but God can. God does. And God will continue to do so until they stay open long enough for us to actually see.

See God in the world. See God’s grace and forgiveness for all people. See God’s love in and around our lives, strengthening us to reflect this love onto all whom we meet.

Thanks be to God! Have a great week, everyone!