Matthew 6:²² Jesus said to his disciples, “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light; ²³ but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!”

Perhaps a more helpful translation (or paraphrase) of this passage comes from “the Message” which writes:

  “Your eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar."

With God all things are possible (light), even when things appear to be impossible (dark). This is a fundamental dimension of faith, to believe in that which cannot be seen. There are days when it seems we’re never going to get over Covid. I’m personally sick of it as I’m guessing are you.

Later this year I’ll be taking a three month sabbatical, a paid time away from work to renew, refresh, reset for the next leg of my working life. I was supposed to take sabbatical two years ago, but Covid interrupted those plans. At this point I’ve decided it’s pointless to wait until Covid is past because it appears it’s here to stay. While I understand this intellectually, it’s disappointing. I had once envisioned traveling overseas, perhaps to Europe, to see some ancient sites with biblical significance. Or perhaps travel to New Zealand to visit my brother there. Those things are pretty much off the table now.

So it seems I’m likely to remain stateside. This morning I’m asking the Lord to speak hope into me, when planning for sabbatical seems a bit hopeless. I know there will be blessing coming even if I can’t yet see where or how. Lord give me grace to see light rather than darkness. Amen.