Blindspots

Once, Jesus healed a man who was born blind. Pause for a moment and read John 9:1-41. That’s amazing! The man had never seen in his life until he saw Jesus. I was thinking about what that means for you and me, though, and Barty told me this story.

One day, as the legend goes, Little Barty Badger and The Squirrel were off on an adventure. Barty made a way for the Squirrel to come to a special Feast where he would discover his true name. The Squirrel was excited. Mostly about the feast, though. He was getting hungry.

As the two trundled (well, Barty trundled, the squirrel squirreled) through the forest, both the squirrel’s tummy and the squirrel’s voice were grumbling. He leaned his head back, closed his eyes shut and said, “I’m so hungry!” As he walked with his eyes shut, he passed right by an amazing rope swing. Barty said excitedly, “Did you want to see how high we can swing?” But the squirrel, keeping his eyes closed, just walked and said, “I wonder if they’ll have acorns at the feast?”

“Hmmm,” said Barty.

Soon they came to was seemed to be the most perfect climbing tree. Branches in all the right spots, spreading out wide just right for sprinting around like a maniac! Barty said, “Do you want see how fast you can go around and around? Squirrels love that kind of thing.” The Squirrel kept his eyes shut, turned to Barty, and said, “Bananas. Will they have bananas?”

“Hmmm, Hmmm,” Barty said.

Then there was a hollow log on the side of a hill. A perfect slide! But before Barty could even say anything, the Squirrel groaned “custard pies!” And kept walking with his eyes shut.

Barty finally grabbed the squirrel by the shoulders and said, “Little squirrel, open your eyes! You’re missing all those adventures because you’re only thinking about yourself.”

The squirrel shook himself as if he was waking up. “Oh. But aren’t we heading to a feast just for me?”

“No,” laughed Barty. “It’s a feast for all kinds of animals and adventurers. Besides, it’s not for a while yet. We can adventure on the way! And I’ve got just the adventure for you.” Barty pointed down the hill to where an Old Turtle was trying to climb a tree. It lifted one shaky leg up the trunk and then flipped over onto his back. 

The Squirrel looked at Barty and said flatly, “You want me to help a turtle climb a tree.”

“Yup!” said Barty. “Adventurers always help.”

The Squirrel stomped his way over to the turtle. He flipped the old turtle back over and then offered to help. “Oh yes!” Said the turtle. “I’ve always wanted to see the top of the trees!”

The Squirrel hefted and hufted, lifted and launched but he couldn’t get the turtle up the tree. But then he started to see a way and he started to get excited. “If that branch connects to that vine and that rock counterweights and we jump there…. gasps! we can do it!” The whole thing clicked like a puzzle in his mind. The squirrel hooped and hollered in excitement. 

And then he turned around and looked and saw the whole forest! There were adventures everywhere! He saw a Mouse struggling with acorns, Birds building a nest, even the Owl who stopped him at the gate, and they all seemed like adventures now. “Barty!” he said. “I can see!”

Well that’s what the legend says, but I know one thing is true: we all need help to see.