Face to the Sun

Year 8-Day 242: Today, I am grateful  we can keep our face to the sun. 

"Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow." -Helen Keller

This is a powerful quote, especially in light of the fact Helen Keller was blind. I am confident she could discern the sunshine from the shadows on her face, with heightened senses. She could not trust her eyes. She sharpened her senses of touch, smell and taste. I imagine, she could sense someone pass by, even though she could not see them. Perhaps from scent or from heavy steps on the floor.   

As humans, we are so tempted to believe what we see and hear, even when other senses might tell a different story.  Trompe-l'œil is an art technique that uses realistic imagery to create the optical illusion that the depicted objects exist in three dimensions. Forced perspective is a comparable illusion in architecture. What you see is an illusion. Sometimes we have to look a little deeper. 

It wasn't that long ago, books were rare and newspapers could take weeks to arrive in rural areas. Today, we have instant media... and social media. Add in Photoshop skills and we cannot believe all that we see. Video clips can be edited to tell a completely different story with the push of a button or a few sliders. Chasing truth can be a full time job. Most people don't bother. God gave us two ears and two eyes, but only one mouth. To listen more than we speak is likely by design.

(Reminder: Facebook page is for gratitude not political debate... and I in this country we are free to agree to disagree... and that is a beautiful freedom.) 

I am grateful we have other senses to employ when life gets complicated. We have the power of prayer...and prayer is a superpower. We have the scriptures to consult, and the Word of God is still living and breathing. We have the Holy Spirit to comfort and guide. 

When nothing makes sense and the world feels like it has gone completely mad... remember Helen Keller. "Keep your face to the sun and you cannot see the shadow." 

The shadow is there... lurking... but we can keep our eyes to the sun. We may feel the shadow on our neck, but we do not have to fear the darkness or the evil, because the light always disperses the darkness. 

I love that in English "the sun" and "the Son" are homophones. The words sound the same but are spelled differently. 

" I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways." -Psalm 119:15

"And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." -Hebrews 12:1-3 

Earworm is singing the Beatles song "I'll Follow the Sun" and Fanny J. Crosby's "To God Be The Glory".Yes, my Earworm has diverse musical tastes. Crosby, like Helen Keller, was blind. She wrote many hymns including "To God Be The Glory". When you know of her blindness, this verse grows sweeter:

"Great things He hath taught us, great things He hath done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
But purer, and higher, and greater will be
Our wonder, our rapture, when Jesus we see. 

The world may be crazy, but for me there is peace. I've made my choice. I will follow the Son. 

Today, I am grateful  we can keep our face to the sun... and the Son.