Many years ago, working as a summer camp counselor, I can still remember Jerry, a perky, blind eleven-year-old arriving at my cabin.  I had zero experience with blind campers and was immediately fearful and alarmed of potential dangers occurring during his week-long stay.  I was also a bit fearful about the dynamics of the other campers and how they would blend-together.  

As we all sat around getting acquainted, I quickly discovered that Jerry's interests and aspirations surpassed many of my "seeing" campers.  Right from the first activity, Jerry enthusiastically participated in the camp’s programs.  With his fellow campers helping him, he eagerly hiked, rode horses, became the best foul shooter in basketball, and excelled at canoeing. 

Around the evening campfire, Jerry vigorously sang camp songs, told countless humorous stories, and a few scary ones too.  It was easy to forget that Jerry was blind, as he fit in so easily with his fellow campers. 

By day three, Jerry was a hit with the entire cabin.  His distinct goodness poured easily over everything he did adding sparkle to his personality.  It was a delight to see the other campers crowding around him totally engaged.  I recognized that these moments turned a challenge into something positive, as his new camping buddies stood in awe at this eleven-year-old boy's courage.  They admired him and saw him as a hero.  The whole experience still blows me away.

Like Jerry, we all lack something, but when some gifts fade, we simply must look more closely to our other talents.  As Ruth Ann says in the above quote, gifts are there, we simply have to “untie the ribbons.”

Jerry did just that.  If he spent his days focusing on being blind, that would be all Jerry saw. But he learned to look at each day as an opportunity to make a change in his life, or someone else’s. Jerry saw the endless gifts that needed “untying.” 

Jerry was not denying the reality of blindness; rather, he was enlarging his vision, seeing far beyond his blindness and its challenges, and seeing what is still right, wonderful, and hope filled.

As followers of Jesus, we also need to reflect on our pains and losses, but in the context of the larger view.  As God’s children we have the gifts of grace, mercy, and love arriving daily, and in abundance.  However, we have to take the time to “untie the ribbons,” especially as we focus on the promised and cherished prize of eternal life.

Francis de Sales' wisdom about life's obstacles inspired this comment:

"People of ordinary goodness walk in God's way, but the devout run in it and at length they almost fly."