Snakes, Glasses, and Blindness

     I was at a house visiting some people the other day. We randomly started talking about snakes, and they decided to show us their snakes. They have a Ball Python, a Burmese Python, and an Albino Burmese Python. Personally, my favorite is the albino, by far. One of their snakes was getting ready to shed. When that happens, their eyes haze over, causing them temporary blindness until the process of shedding is complete.



     Another fun incident came a week or so later as we were driving around to go visit some people. We had the AC on because it was hot and muggy outside. As we got out of the car, the difference in the temperature, and the humidity in the air outside, actually caused my glosses to fog over, temporarily obscuring my vision. Only in the South, my friends, only in the South.



    So, what do these two things have in common? Well, if my post title didn't give it away, I will. On both occasions, someone or something experienced blindness, albeit temporary blindness. Let me tell you about a third instance of blindness, that can be either temporary, or permanent. I speak of spiritual blindness.
     There is a theme that quite often appears in the world today. It is that of good being associated with light, and evil being associated with darkness. I think that this is in part due to the fact that when we choose good, our lives are filled with light and joy, and conversely, when we choose evil, our lives are filled with darkness. When we choose evil, we enter a state called spiritual blindness. At one time or another, we will all experience the effects of spiritual blindness as we choose evil over good. The question is, are we going to choose to stay in that state, or are we going to seek for healing? And if we do seek for healing, where do we find it? A scripture in the New Testament says,
      "And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way." (Mark 10:51-52)
     Also, among many of the prophecies of Isaiah, one especially applies here, "For I will send my servant unto you who are blind; yea, a messenger to open the eyes of the blind, and unstop the ears of the deaf" (Isaiah 41:19)
     If we seek to be healed from our state of spiritual blindness, then we must seek Him who spent His whole life healing, and continues to spend His life healing all who will come unto Him. I know that if we rely on Christ, and seek for that healing, through prayer, and through doing all we can to follow Him, we can be healed of our spiritual blindness. I have seen it in my own life multiple times, and know that healing can come, and with it, great joy and peace.

Priorities

      I found this cool picture and quote of something that hit me pretty hard last night as I lay awake thinking about life, that being priorities. I realized that my priorities were in dire need of some re-evaluation and re-ordering. I realized there were some things that I was putting in a place of much greater importance than they should be, and things of great importance that I was putting in a place of much less importance than they should be.
      So, why are priorities so important? Something Christ said both in Jerusalem and in America comes to mind, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (3 Ne. 13:21, Luke 12:34). I also have heard it said that we love that which we think most about, or something like that. Our desires govern our priorities, which govern our thoughts, which govern our actions, which govern who and what we become. Therefore, our desires and priorities are vital in the ultimate outcome of who and what we become and are becoming each and every day.
        I figure this will probably be a lifelong process of evaluating and re-evaluating my priorities, and then fixing them accordingly. Even though there are many good things in my life right now, it goes without saying, too much of a good thing can become bad. I think that should be my motto. Since last night, I have begun to really contemplate what is most important in life, and then to put that at the top of my priorities. Thus, it goes to reason that if I place Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ at the top of my priorities, my thoughts and actions undoubtedly will follow, that I might become more like them. We must first change who we are inside, and then all else will follow, and we will be able to feel a much greater measure of joy and peace in our lives.