Martha's Incredible (In)Sight
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series III, Cycle C
My dear friend, Martha, is blind. She wasn't always blind. She was a nurse educator with much education behind her when her health failed. Her kidneys failed. Her body failed. Finally, she was given an option to have a kidney transplant. The operation was a success of sorts: the kidney works fine. But when the blood pressure returned to a normal level, the pressure burst the vessels to her eyes.
Martha was only 31 when this happened. She experienced depression, anger, and regret. But she also knew she had to go on with her life. Her faithful husband, Billy, read her her post-graduate books aloud. She continued to be a nurse, feeling her patients' hurts and diagnosing problems with uncommon insight. She continues to teach nursing at the University.
Although this is incredible indeed, what I find even more incredible is how many times Martha has publicly stated that although she's sorry about what happened, she would not take back a minute of her blindness. If someone were to ask her today if she would like to have sight, she would say, "No." I was skeptical when I first heard this -- but then I got to know this strong, courageous woman. Martha's testimony to countless people is that through her blindness she reached an awareness of God that she couldn't have reached otherwise.
One day, several months after her return to "health," she came home, stumbled to her bedroom and got on her knees. She remembers sobbing and asking God why this had to happen to her. Martha says that from the depths of her soul, she cried and cried as she never had done before. She poured out all her feelings, frustrations, and fears to God. She cried and then was struck by the silence in her home. She remembers being very quiet, listening to the quiet. She also remembers a tremendous feeling of peace coming over her as she was crying and listening. It was just Martha and God.
It was a transforming moment for Martha. She never felt alone after that moment. She still felt the medical mistake was regrettable, but also felt that there was something sacred to her blindness. She decided right then and there to see what God would want Martha to do with her blindness or if it even mattered.
Martha says that she found insight into God through the silence around her. There were no distractions around as she sought guidance. She has had tremendous support around her, yet in the quietest and loneliest moments, it's still just Martha and God.
Martha's testimony has touched many, many people. What I love so much about Martha -- besides her quick humor -- is her ability to ask questions and give very honest answers. She considers much when she is sought for advice. She asks for specifics and gives specifics. She is trusted because she feels no discrimination, no judgment, no bias.
I'm sorry to say that it took me a while to understand what Martha means. But I had the privilege to work with her. Martha is a parish nurse. And now that I have seen her in action with patients, I see the truth in her words: God has given her a truly special insight that goes beyond sight.
Martha was only 31 when this happened. She experienced depression, anger, and regret. But she also knew she had to go on with her life. Her faithful husband, Billy, read her her post-graduate books aloud. She continued to be a nurse, feeling her patients' hurts and diagnosing problems with uncommon insight. She continues to teach nursing at the University.
Although this is incredible indeed, what I find even more incredible is how many times Martha has publicly stated that although she's sorry about what happened, she would not take back a minute of her blindness. If someone were to ask her today if she would like to have sight, she would say, "No." I was skeptical when I first heard this -- but then I got to know this strong, courageous woman. Martha's testimony to countless people is that through her blindness she reached an awareness of God that she couldn't have reached otherwise.
One day, several months after her return to "health," she came home, stumbled to her bedroom and got on her knees. She remembers sobbing and asking God why this had to happen to her. Martha says that from the depths of her soul, she cried and cried as she never had done before. She poured out all her feelings, frustrations, and fears to God. She cried and then was struck by the silence in her home. She remembers being very quiet, listening to the quiet. She also remembers a tremendous feeling of peace coming over her as she was crying and listening. It was just Martha and God.
It was a transforming moment for Martha. She never felt alone after that moment. She still felt the medical mistake was regrettable, but also felt that there was something sacred to her blindness. She decided right then and there to see what God would want Martha to do with her blindness or if it even mattered.
Martha says that she found insight into God through the silence around her. There were no distractions around as she sought guidance. She has had tremendous support around her, yet in the quietest and loneliest moments, it's still just Martha and God.
Martha's testimony has touched many, many people. What I love so much about Martha -- besides her quick humor -- is her ability to ask questions and give very honest answers. She considers much when she is sought for advice. She asks for specifics and gives specifics. She is trusted because she feels no discrimination, no judgment, no bias.
I'm sorry to say that it took me a while to understand what Martha means. But I had the privilege to work with her. Martha is a parish nurse. And now that I have seen her in action with patients, I see the truth in her words: God has given her a truly special insight that goes beyond sight.
