What to Look For

All the events around  four torn and  a detached retina has made interesting conversation,  The very first question I get is how did it happen.  Well a light blow on the head  can be as bad as a car accident  when it comes to a detached retina.  A standing compressor that falls over and taps you on the head was all it took.  But that is not the story. 

People want to know, "How did you know to go to the doctor?"  It took about four days for the first symptoms to surface.  First was the small black dots like the floaters in your eyes began moving around in my sight.  I thought hum but discounted  any issue.  Then the next day I had a film develop over the vision of the right eye.  My thought was, "Maybe I should see our eye doctor?"  So we made an appointment for the next evening.   Then I woke up the next morning and saw a dark semi circle in the bottom of my vision.  It was a black circle and restricted my lower vision.  We went to the doctor and they said you have to see a specialist immediately.  So the next morning we were off to the specialist.   The doctor took a long look at the eye and said you need to have surgery.  Then he said, "Tonight!"    Now I was concerned.

So with the black oval moving higher into my vision, I was ready for surgery.  The night I went into surgery and that was an adventure.

First they numb the entire eye area and I was asleep for less than a minute during that time.  Next I was  awake and staring into a bright light.  As I told Jason, the nurse, it was like a was watching the intro to the show, "The Outer Limits" where an eyeball approaches and you see all the blood vessels in the eye except I knew it was MY eye.  Now a tube enters from the right and I see all the floaters that I had had for years being sucked out through the tube.  While the tube is still there I see another instrument enter the eye and see a little red spark and heard a sound.  The doctor noted that he was cauterizing the tears.  I relaxed as the zaps continued.  

Now that instrument is pulled out of my eye and enters another one.  Then I hear the doctors say, "Laser at 150".  I was waiting for him to say, "Clear" (like on a cardiac patient)  but  it never got that far.  I then saw a green light flash throughout my eye several times.  Then the doctors asked for 200 and then the light turns yellow as the doctor worked.  Finally he said, "250 should do it".  Now the light turned orange which was appropriate since I was at the University of Tennessee hospital.

When that instrument was retracted, another one entered and the vision area and light went darker as he inserted a gas bubble in front of the retina so it would hold the retina in place for healing.  After three hours in recovery with my head facing down, we were headed home about 1:30 in the morning.

I tell you all this so you can know the warning signs of a serious eye problem.  We are only given our two eyes and so if you encounter anything like what I describe at the top, see a specialist immediately.  

Next do not be afraid of the surgery experience even though you are awake the entire time.   People think I am strange when I said that I enjoyed the experience because I was afforded the opportunity to seeing the master of eye surgery in action.  I believe the Lord uses these specialists to help save your sight.  Appreciate their talent and do not be afraid.  Do not be stubborn and have the beauty you see around you taken away. 

Even though the gas bubble is going away and my full sight is not back, I look at the leaves turning and the beginning of fall with more appreciation than I have ever before.    Look around you and thank the Lord for seeing all the beautiful colors.  Sight is His gift to you!  Thank HIM!

I'm Not That Important!

Matthew 5: 13-16   "Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.  "Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill.  If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand.  Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand - shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.(The Message)

  

It all began with a two hour drive to the top of the mountain to see a clear sunset.   When you are starting the journey at sea level and rising to 13,970 to the top of Mauna Kea Summit, the 360 degree view is beyond your imagination.

Just watching the sun set for the evening above all the clouds gives you a feeling of awe that the Lord concludes each day with a beautiful sunset.  Even when we can’t see it.

Then as dusk turns into twilight we saw our first stars.  The guide told us we needed to move to a lower elevation before watching the stars.  The air was a little thin at the top and turning your head upward could cause you to lose your balance and end up on the ground.

At 9,000 feet the sky was extremely clear and the mountains shielded reflective light from cities forty miles away.

As I turned my head skyward, I could not believe all the stars, planets, satellites, and falling meteors that literally filled the sky.  Our guide noted one star that blew up fourteen years ago and yet we are still seeing the light from that one star today.

The next hour brought tears to my eyes.  The Lord created everything that was in the sky and yet He created our solar system, Earth, and the place we call home.  Then it hit me…He created ME!  Then I wondered, why?

I searched my heart to quietly reflect on the wonder of life which I so often take for granted.

My mind thinks the reality of life is that I am just a speck in God’s universe and cannot be important.  Yet, in His whisper of the night sky, God reminds me of how important I am.

When we feel so defeated or insignificant in life, we should look around and understand that God NEVER makes a mistake.  You were born with a divine purpose and are here today for the purpose noted in today’s verses. 

You are so important that our God, the Creator, sent His son from heaven just for YOU!  No matter what age you might be, there is an important task that the Lord STILL has for your life.

If you stare up watching the stars you may think, like me, you are not important.  If you bow your head and get down on your knees you will then understand how important you really are to Him and everyone you touch in life.