T H E O P H I L U S

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:18

Last week, I ventured on a seemingly routine journey—one that would inadvertently lead to profound revelations. I was due for an optometrist appointment to update the prescription on my glasses. Over the past year or so, my eyesight felt like it wasn’t what it used to be. My vision was a little more blurry where I wasn’t used to it being so. But somehow I learned to live with it. It seemed OK.

But as the Doctor began to cycle through the different lenses in the Ophthalmic Phoropter, a shock awaited me. Gone were the days where my sight was solely hindered by nearsightedness (myopia); my vision had changed, now adorned with the marks of presbyopia—embracing both near and farsightedness, a companion to many entering middle age.

It wasn’t until I saw through a proper prescription for my presbyopia that I realized how clearly I didn’t see. Imagine the transition from a tube television from the eighties to a modern ultra-high-definition screen. The clarity was stunning!

My shock quickly turned to excitement, eliciting an exuberant cry to the optometrist – “I CAN SEE THINGS!!” Anticipation filled me at the thought of donning new bifocals, eager for surprises as to what I’ve been missing.

Little things came to mind—maybe there’s a reason my shaving seems so spotty, why, to my wife’s dismay, I miss many spots when doing the dishes, or why areas of the house remain untouched when vacuuming.

This newfound clarity led to humbling reflections. In truth, it revealed how imperfect I can be:

“In mirrors made of glass and silver I never see the whole of myself. I see the me I want to see, and I ignore the rest. Mirrors that hide nothing hurt me. They reveal an ugliness I’d rather deny.”

– Walter Wangerin Jr., Reliving the Passion, 1992.

Indeed, there are facets of myself I’d prefer to turn away from, secrets I’d like hidden from all—even from God’s sight. Yet, it is only when I present my entire being in front of the Lord—from the deepest insecurities to the darkest corners of my sins—that true transformation occurs. It is in these moments of vulnerability where God gracefully lifts us from the depths to the pinnacle of His glory and wonder.

Remember, it starts with a choice—a choice to stand before God in candid honesty and trust, embracing the fact that His love surpasses all understanding. To the point that He gave his life for you on a cross. Let us take courage, for in His sight, no imperfection can diminish our worth. And in the light of His grace, every hidden corner within us is an opportunity for redemption and growth.