Blind Eyes

What I know about myself is that I enjoy all ages, races and designs. 

Babies fill my love tank, jajas make my heart burst, teens inspire me, children give me joy… well you get the picture. So being in Uganda in the homes, schools, hospitals, prisons, villages and the city has been incredible because I have found myself interlocked with all of God’s people. One thing I know, as children of God, we belong to one another, we need one another, and even just a simple conversation has the possibility of chasing away darkness. 

One day when I set out with a friend to visit a jaja, our plans were changed when we did not find her at home. Looking back, that was all in the plan because God had another jaja in mind for us to visit. His name is Forgensia. Forgensia, like most of the jajas we know, lives alone, in a dark mud and brick dwelling with a dirt floor, and a host of creatures in and out of the holes created by the elements. He has two rooms, but as he only has a stool for visitors, a stump of a tree for himself, and a few jerry cans laying about, he really has more room than he needs. What makes Forgensia tug on my heart is the fact that his eyes are closed all the time...literally.  He has a condition that prevents him from opening his eyelids.

Forgensia must pull an eyelid up with his finger in order to see anything at all, and even then, his eyesight is poor. When I first met him and watched him lift up the one eyelid to see me, I had to struggle to hold back my sobs. He lives in literal darkness not created by the lack of electricity. Thieves come and go as they please stealing his charcoal, or food if he has had the good fortune of having food that day, and he can do nothing to stop them. He has children who live far away and therefore, we are some of his only visitors. In addition, he is wracked with pain, he has a large tumor on his chest, growing as we speak, and has many other problems as well, making it difficult for him to move.

Nonetheless, he has never failed to welcome visitors, and offer what he has to give, a list of endless questions regarding the meaning of life, God, and the Bible.

The first time he invited us into deep and interesting conversations, it was immediately apparent that his mind is strong, probing, and literally all that he really has. He is very skeptical, countering thoughts with those of his own. Sometimes, he shares his strength and hope, but most of the time our conversations reveal the truth about fears and anxieties that are rooted deep in his heart. Truthfully, his closed eyes are a profound metaphor for his life. Just as he cannot see beauty with his eyes, his heart is also blind to the free gift of acceptance and love that he longs for. What is the remedy for such angst?... love. So it is love that we offer, love that wins, and love that brings a smile to his face as he lifts up his eyelid to share in a chuckle.

On this day however, the loneliness and fear as we approached his house was palpable. When we entered in, it took him some time to emerge and greet us from the back room. Greeting us, he did not even bother to lift up his eyelid. As I silently prayed for light to overcome darkness, tears poured out of me. Compassion overwhelmed me as I waited, but thankfully, joy was right on the heels of this. After all, God restores, renews, gives beauty for ashes, strength for fears. He is hope for the hopeless, and a defender of widows and the poor. He is mighty to save and endlessly faithful. His mercies are real. He is a pro at overcoming all things dark, and using willing hearts to be light in the darkness. So as I shared what was on my heart and prayed and hoped and talked with him, I watched as the loneliness, fear, angst and darkness retreated and his countenance was uplifted. I believe that the eyes of His heart were opened, just like Ephesians 3, and though I prayed and hoped for his actual eyes to see, I will take this miracle any day. His hurting heart received exactly what was needed, to know he is not forgotten and he is not alone. His well-being was intact. The once dark atmosphere we walked into had completely shifted! What a beautiful testimony of His faithfulness, and what a gift to be allowed to replace fear with love, to bring light to the darkness, and to love the world, one person at a time.

So....please say a little prayer for Forgensia, especially that God would heal him, send more people to visit him, and that love would overcome him for the rest of his days. 

True spirituality that is pure in the eyes of our Father is to make a difference in the lives of the orphans, and widows in their troubles, and to refuse to be corrupted by the worlds values.

James 1:27