After I had my cataracts removed last year, I could undoubtedly see things very much more clearly and in richer colour than I had become use to but, mysteriously, I still found that if I looked for example at the moon I would see two moons, a bright moon and a shadow. A recent visit to the optician proved to be very helpful in that I was given an explanation of the cause of, and solution to, this phenomenon.
I had astigmatism and although my distance eyesight was very good, putting a prism into my new lens would correct this defect. Astigmatism distorts our view of the world, it skews it. It’s a structural defect that prevents the rays of light from both eyes being brought to a common focus and so one doesn’t get a sharp image.
I thought this morning, “that is what our culture does to our view of God”, and “that is what the atmospheres all around us do over time. They distort our vision of who God is, and His amazingly beautiful characteristics.”
I fell to thinking about the prism that the optician has prescribed for me, in order that I should see the moon and other distant objects more clearly; it seemed like the Lord was saying that ‘the prism of thanksgiving’ is the thing that will clear the distortions from our vision of Him. The ‘prism of thanksgiving’ will enable us to filter out all the distortions that the world puts on our God, and we will be able to see Him in all His magnificence.
Then, as I was ruminating on this, a further wonderful thought crossed my mind. Thinking of prisms I went back in time to my science class, when we played with prisms and white light, and saw for ourselves the incredible constituents of white light spread before us in the full spectrum of the rainbow. Just amazing! As you know we have never lost our fascination with those rainbow colours, and I believe this is what the Lord said.
“If My people will look at me through the prism of thanksgiving, not only will they see more clearly who I AM, they will see My Power and My Love for them brighter, stronger and clearer every day. They will also begin to see My Glory as on the Mount Of Transfiguration shining in all its splendor and colour into their lives. My desire is to have a people like Moses who will say to Me “Show me your Glory”, and who will then see My Goodness and Loving Kindness pass before their eyes. Exodus 33:18-19.
We need to have our gaze on Him, freed from the cynicism, rationalism and humanism of our day. A heart of thanksgiving will ensure that not only will we see Him more clearly and sharply, but we will also see the magnificent kaleidoscope of colour that is our God, His power, His love, and His goodness.
