Progressive Lenses

Five years ago, I had a routine vision screening.  My eyes were perfect – no problems at all.  The optometrist told me that I could fly a plane - if doing so was in my plans.  After that stellar report, I probably didn’t give my “eye health” a second thought, taking for granted my seemingly infallible optical ability.    It’s funny how things change right before us (literally)  – yet, almost undetectably. 

In Mid-2011, I noticed the need to hold Lean Cuisine packages further from my face in order to clearly read the microwave instructions.  A few months later, in fall of 2011, my eyes literally started “hurting” and most afternoons, after hours on my laptop – I would experience a ridiculous headache.  In late November, weird “halos” and dots began invading my view.  That’s when I became more than a bit frightened (brain tumors coming to mind) and called a local, well-respected Optometrist on our medical plan. He saw me that afternoon and I was SHOCKED to learn that in just five short years, my perfect vision had diminished remarkably.  Not only am “near sighted” – I am “far sighted” as well.  So, at the age of 43 and 3 months –  my very first pair of glasses were carefully selected.  They aren’t bifocals like my Dad or grandparents had, with the blatant, definitive line through the middle.  My lenses are “progressive” – like me.  (In the open- minded sense and/or the "hopefully" progressing in life sense.)  There are no distinct lines, but an increased ability to: see far away through the top third; work on a laptop for hours at a time through the mid-section; and view up close, the tiny cooking instructions on my frozen entrée – in the bottom third. 

My eyes didn’t “go bad” overnight.  There were increasingly significant warning signs along the way that I disregarded.  It wasn’t until I thought a large tumor could be growing in my head that I actually acknowledged and addressed the underlying cause. 

When the glasses were first put on, I thought they made my eyes worse.  For the first several days – I was literally nauseated and often dizzy.  It actually seemed the doctor had made a mistaken diagnosis, so I did what most of us do - Googled it.  Apparently, mine was a normal reaction. 

After a few weeks, there was no nausea or dizziness.  I adapted to walking up and down stairs and off curbs.  It wasn’t long before the realization set in that the HORRIBLE headaches were completely gone.  My eyes, with correction, were better than ever!

A few months later, I can easily see a correlation between declining optic health and my own, overall “human condition.”  There have long been “little signs” pointing to areas of concern in my life: challenging or unattended relationships; habits and tendencies that I ought to address:  i.e.,  my insane passion for sleep between the hours of 5 and 8am; the urge to pour a glass of wine after a stressful day or an encounter with someone who I swear has been put on this Earth to TEST me; the tendency to get sucked into meaningless tv – turning into two hours of couch potato-ism.  My faults are many -my attributes seem few.

Admittedly, the areas of weakness listed above have brought about conviction from time to time.  However, like the signs with my eyes that were long ignored – I can no longer allow these areas of my life to remain unchecked and unresolved.  (Nor will I wait until a “Cancerous tumor” is perceived – or diagnosed.)

I attended the Memorial Service of a longtime friend and classmate yesterday.  Milton’s class of 86 is still quite young, yet she was the third to die in roughly a year.  Her loss was completely without warning.  Sadly, she leaves behind a 5 year old daughter and a much-loved husband of 8 years.  As I think about Angela, I can’t help but wonder what she would’ve done differently the last days, weeks, and months of her life had she known her remaining days were so few?   

At my age, we tend to go about our routines with the assumption of time. The truth of the matter, a truth that I’ve long known cognitively, but find hard to accept deep down…. Is that there is no guarantee of tomorrow.  From this day forward, I plan to address those areas of life that give me pause for concern.  Maybe after proper diagnosis and “correction”, relief of longstanding headaches and perception issues will come.

A couple of you that I know and love well  are dealing with “areas” of short -sightedness.  Some share one or more of mine; others refuse to acknowledge truth about certain family members – thus enabling them to continue destructive patterns , hurting themselves and others in the process. Friends of mine are in relationships that shouldn’t exist -  they seem to “know” but ignore that fact. Some want to take the seemingly easy way out, while others find a way to displace blame for the problems they face.  Then again, I have friends who want to stay on the periphery of God’s radar.  When convenient, they see God as Santa Claus – giving Him their list of “wants” but ignoring Him altogether when the “wants” are few or temporarily satisfied.  No matter what, my friends in these scenarios, are dealing with unnecessary headaches AND heartaches. 

We should address our symptoms, especially the recurring ones – with the appropriate person or entity.  The applicable  "diagnosis" and the necessary prescription will surely bring relief.  Sure, as was the case for a few short weeks –  prescribed treatment made me a bit uncomfortable, and quite literally – nauseated.  However, I now know it’s because my vision was being corrected.  It was, in retrospect, a short adjustment period. The halos and spots invading my vision have disappeared and clarity since is restored.  How foolish of me to wait so long before facing the issues that were growing increasingly apparent.  It could’ve been me that closed my eyes for the last time  in recent days.  Sadly, it would've been with words unsaid, habits unbroken, and relationships left unattended. 

The areas that I need to address are crystal clear to me. What would you address if you knew this was the last week of your life? 

Newsflash:  it might be.

~~~~~~~~~~~

“yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”  (James 4:14)

Pride could've prevented me from glasses,
as I didn't want to look "older".  It was a bit of a
struggle.  Now the question is:  What is pride
 getting in the way of in other areas of life?

Cross references:

1. James 4:14 : Ps. 102:3; [Job 7:7]
Are there phone calls to make?  Moments to be shared?

Forgiveness to extend?  Friendships to restore?

Habits to break? Complaining less and praising more?