What’s so legal about being blind?
It shouldn’t be legal for anyone to be blind or even visually impaired! The term, legally blind, seems like an oxymoron and these two words just shouldn’t be put together!
Dictionary.com defines an oxymoron as; contradictory or incongruous words or concepts that are made up of contradictory elements.
Exactly!
When I think about the word ‘legal’, I think of words like good, acceptable, right, just and fair. And the word ‘illegal’ is synonymous with words like; bad, unacceptable, wrong, unjust and unfair.
Granted, the term legally blind, is used to help doctors and even government organizations to register the severity of the impairment. And there is a standard for a normal range of vision, but to be considered legally blind, one must have a visual acuity of 20/200 or worse, or have a peripheral acuity of less than 20 degrees while wearing corrective lenses. Basically, this means that even when you are wearing glasses, you just can’t see much! I confess I don’t like being called legally blind!
But as I reflect, the shift begins. I suppose there are many things that are considered acceptable that were once unacceptable. And sometimes legal no longer means right and illegal no longer means wrong. The moral standard, of what is considered, “within normal range,” is skewed by cultural opinion, truths and untruths based on what we read on social media or what we watch on TV.
Now, I understand that when we talk about these contradictory terms; legal - illegal, appropriate – inappropriate, true - false, just - unjust, we immediately want to think of the big social issues of the day. But what about the seemingly small things?
I am guilty. I confess, I sometimes choose to let things that should be illegal to my spirit become legal in my flesh. Sometimes I’m just lazy and I have let things that are not okay become okay. Sometimes my pride, my attitudes and my actions do not match up with my words. I confess I do not want to be tagged with this oxymoronic term, legally blind, nor do I want my life to be made up of incongruent and contradictory elements...
Once again I am reminded - I must go back to the standard that measures truth.
For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Philippians 2:13 (NLT)
It is Jesus.
It is Jesus.
It Jesus who is graciously, lovingly, and even patiently shaping and reshaping me. It is Jesus, giving me this desire to live and see 20/20 according to His word! And it is Jesus who will complete his work in me.
Lord, thank you for your promise to love us, guide us and to keep us. Thank you for drawing us near, for giving us the desire to live according to your will and for bringing it to completion. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
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