A bird does not sing because it has an answer
It sings because it has a song
(Chinese Proverb)
Today's sermon was on blind Bartimaeus (Luke 18:35-43), and how he waited each day by the road, begging for his existence, waiting for something to change, something to happen. He had heard about this Jesus, how He healed the sick, restored the cripples, and gave sight to the blind. And here He was, walking down the road, surrounded by a multitude clamoring for His touch, His words. Crying out, Bartimaeus tried to get Jesus' attention, but the crowd hushed him, and told him to be quiet. Yet above the tumult, Jesus heard the cry of the blind beggar and summoned him to Himself. "What do you want Me to do for you," Jesus asked. Bartimaeus responded with a single request: that he might see. "Receive your sight," the Lord cried out, "Your faith has made you well."
Can you imagine living your life, alone, blind, penniless, crawling the streets every day begging for a crust of bread to gnaw on or a drink of water to quench your thirst? And every day you go to bed on a stone stoop or under a bridge, still hungry, thirsty, and alone. You can't see the sun rise in the morning, you don't know what it looks like after a rainfall when droplets of water are still cascading off of flower petals, and you can't appreciate the change of seasons, when the luscious green of summer changes into autumn hues. You are in darkness.
But one day, you hear people talking about a Man who can take away your blindness, Who can heal your hurts, Who can comfort your soul. Every day you pray that this Man will come and rescue you from yourself. And every day you wait and listen for the sound of His coming. Scripture says that after he received his sight, Bartimaeus "began glorifying Him, glorifying God; and when all the people saw it, they gave praise to God" (verse 43).
Like Bartimaeus, I too was once lost, blind, poor, and wretched. Without hope, and helpless on my own. But by the grace of God, he restored my sight, and gave me the gift of hope--an eternal life with Him in glory. Yet so often I forget the mystery of His mercy. Take for granted each breath that comes from Him. The lesson of a blind beggar waiting for God's miraculous touch is a reminder to me of my own spiritual regeneration.
It's an inspiration for me, as well as a challenge, to live each day in the shadow of His grace, letting His light radiate from me. In a world full of selfishness and pride, qualities such as joy, peace, gentleness, and patience are becoming increasingly rare. Tomorrow, (as I take an exam I'm not prepared for and try and finish projects long overdue), I want to be defined by a song of joy, not a voice of complaining.
Like the proverbial bird, I sing not because I have the answers; I sing because I know Who does. And that's something worth singing about.
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