CONNECTING CREATION WITH THE CREATOR

Fourth Sunday Lent A the blind man John 9: 1-41 7:30 2008
Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room’s only window.
The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men
talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their
homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they
had been on vacation.
And every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit
up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things
he could see outside the window. The man in the other bed began to live
for those one-hour periods where his world would be broadened and
enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside. The window
overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the
water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm
in arm amidst flowers of every color of the rainbow. Grand old trees
graced the landscape, and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen
in the distance.
As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the
man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the
picturesque scene. One warm afternoon the man by the window described a
parade passing by. Although the other man couldn’t hear the band - he
could see it in his mind’s eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed
it with descriptive words. Days and weeks passed.
One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only
to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died
peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital
attendants to take the body away.
As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be
moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and
after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone. Slowly,
painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at
the world outside. Finally, he would have the joy of seeing it for
himself. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the
bed. It faced a blank wall.
The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased
roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window.
The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the
wall. She said, “Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.”
So too Jesus in our gospel story encourages the blind man by healing him from his blindness.
This same power is in your life. Maybe not to heal physical blindness but other kinds of blindness.
For example, you may be blind to the virtues of your husband or wife because you are so intent on criticizing him or her.
Or, for example, you may be blind to the potential of your children because your expectations are so unrealistic.
St. Bonaventure, who lived in the 13th century, talked about what he called “a third eye.”
The third eye is the eye that leads you into contemplation.
With the third eye you are able to make creative connections between creation and the Creator.
For example, the awe of a wondrous summer sunset and your connection with God the Creator of that sunset and God’s boundless beauty that will captivate you in breathless wonder for all eternity.
Or, for example, the thrill of a viola’s solo and connecting that with the smooth invisible strings
that hold the Creator’s universe in majestic order.
Or, for example, the discovery of a new medication connected with the Creator’s eternal mysteries yet to be revealed.
Or, for example, watching a little child and connecting him or her with the God who continuously creates new life and is the force of that life’s development.
In other words, you need to develop the consciousness of this third eye.
You need to be aware of the need to make these connections between creation and the Creator.
Why not try some exercises? For example, gaze at the snow. What connection can you make?
Or, for example, stare at a forlorn looking winter tree and come up with a connection.
Always the connection is betwee what you see and what you can see more of; always the connection between creation and the Creator.
HUMOR about connections:

A woman called a local hospital. “Hello. Could you connect me to the person who gives information about patients. I’d like to find out if a patient is getting better, doing as expected, or getting worse.” The voice on the other end said, “What is the patient’s name and room number?” “Sarah Finkel, room 302.” I’ll connect you with the nursing station.”
“3rd floor Nursing Station. How can I help You?” “I’d like to know the condition of Sarah Finkel in room 302.” “Just a moment. Let me look at her records....... Mrs. Finkel is doing very well. In fact, she’s had two full meals, her blood pressure is fine, to be taken off the heart monitor in a couple of hours and, if she continues this improvement, Dr. Cohen is going to send her home Tuesday at noon.”
The woman said, “What a relief! Oh, that’s fantastic... that’s wonderful news!” The nurse said, “From your enthusiasm, I take it you are a close family member or a very close friend!”
“Neither! I’m Sarah Finkel in 302! Nobody here tells me anything.”

THOUGHT: Always connect creation with the Creator.