Part of learning how to drive involves recognizing blind spots. You need to know where they are and when you need to check them to avoid a collision with a car you simply can’t see within your normal range of vision.
We have spiritual blind spots, too, and failure to account for these can also wreck havoc in our lives.
Historically, those steeped in the Judeo-Christian ethos have raised social consciousness about cultural blind spots. The abolitionist movement, prison reform, the founding of educational institutions and hospitals here and worldwide all trace their roots to Christians and Jews attending to God’s call to love their neighbors as themselves.
On the flip side of this good record we have a sorry history of segments of institutional Christianity arguing in favor of American slavery, promoting racial and religious prejudice, and turning a blind eye to abuses of power.
While we have blind spots as a society, we also have them individuals. It may be a toss-up which of these is harder to address, but clearly the ones we are most directly responsible for are our own.
But it’s hard to see what you’re not in a position to see. In the car, we had an instructor to point out the spots, and remind us how to check for them. What do we have in life?
Calling Isaiah as a prophet, God warned about our blind spots:
“Go and tell this people:
“‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’
Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed” (Isaiah 6:9-10 NIV).
If we endeavor to be a people who really see with our eyes, we must begin by recognizing that we’re prone to blind spots – both personal and societal. God is here to help us take the blinders off. Our part is the turning – an alertness to the Holy Spirit that takes us off “auto pilot” and awakens us to an understanding that heals us. In coming weeks I’d liked to explore what that process involves.
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