Dominique stepped onto the expressway. The sun was starting to crest over the rim of the horizon. The dusty dawn casting shadows on the roadway. Headlights, shadows – so difficult to see.

He had crossed this section of the road hundreds of times. Moving from his homeless camp to the local convenience store, bus stop, and gas station bathroom just a hundred yards away.

But today…

Today would be different.

Dominique stepped onto the roadway, never seen by the oncoming vehicle. He was struck in the northbound lane, thrown into the oncoming traffic and hit a second time.

Dominique died at the scene, leaving behind the mother of his children, a little boy, and a baby girl.

The morning he was killed, the drivers were blinded by the morning’s darkness.

“I didn’t see him!”

A dark coat. Dusty dawn.

“I couldn’t avoid him!”

They didn’t see him – a blurry image in the roadway.

But that morning Dominique was also blind. Physically sightless due to the roadway conditions and the eyes of his heart blinded by the brokenness of his life, the emptiness that plagued him, and an ever-present sense of frustration and fear. A visual impairment that although sighted, prevented him from fully navigating life.

If we are honest, we also suffer from visual impairments. Impairments that force us to keep areas of our life hidden, out of sight from those closes to us – protecting our image, manipulating others’ perceptions of who we are.

We suffer from a type of blindness that in the quietness of our minds, enslaves us in destructive behaviors, blocks our intimacy with God, and isolates us from those that would support us and hold us accountable.

But just as the sunrise offers light, Jesus offers restoration.

The book of Mark shares a story about Jesus’ interaction with a blind man,

(46) Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. (47) When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

(48) Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

(49) Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” (50) Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.

(51) “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”

(52) “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Mark 10:46-52 New International Version (NIV)

The blind man was desperate to be healed. And hearing Jesus was near, he called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Then he did something interesting, he stood up and went to Jesus. No hesitation and although blind, he found his way to the only One that could address his deepest longing, his greatest need – restored sight. During his encounter, he did not shy away from communicating his needs, “I want to see.” And Jesus healed him, immediately!

I wonder how many times we fail to call out to our Father? How many times do we avoid running to Him? How often do we fail to communicate our needs, our hearts, to the One who has the answers we are desperate to receive?

We reluctantly accept our sightless condition because we don’t want to surrender our wills, our desires, our plans. We want to maintain control.

But Jesus consistently restores. He offers sight for our blindness. Light for the dark places of our souls.

BeLOVED be assured that your Heavenly Father waits to meet you. He waits, at the edge of your heart, to bring light, meet your deepest needs, to illuminate His love for you.

You can confidently approach Him.

You can voice your needs and share the pain.

He waits to restore your sight.

(11) For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (12) Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. (13) You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. (14a) I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.

Jeremiah 29:11-14 NIV

Blessings,