BLIND SPOTS

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:23-24).

Blind spots; we all have them. Physically, there is a spot on the retina of each eye where the optic nerve is attached; there are no rods and cones on that spot so there is no sight in that place. Every person has a blind spot in each eye--that should make you want to look twice before you pull out into traffic.

Actually, a blind spot is any lack of self-awareness, it can be physical, psychological, social or spiritual. A blind spot can cause destruction, death and mayhem simply because one wasn't willing to look twice before pulling out into traffic; the psychological, social and spiritual consequences can be just as devastating if a blind spot is not acknowledged.

First, social and emotional blind spots can have a physical cause, for instance, a person with Aspberger's Syndrome lacks mirror neurons in his brain which enable him to read the emotions of another. It is, therefore, extremely difficult for him to have appropriate sensitivity in social situations because he cannot "see" and so life is much more difficult for him. A whole list of brain dysfunctions could be compiled that cause a lack of social and emotional awareness.

Unrecognized bias and prejudice also create blind spots. To make decisions simply on the basis of felt beliefs without examining them can be very dangerous and be the cause a lot of collateral pain.

Most people go around in a kind of hypnotic state open to the power of suggestion. When the conventional worldly wisdom makes a suggestion, we tend to hop on the bandwagon. When one refuses to consider that the conventional wisdom might be wrong then a huge blind spot is created. Just six months ago, who would have believed we would be dealing with such a bad economy as this? The conventional wisdom said otherwise! And, who would have thought that a guy running a ponzi scheme could cheat some very "smart" people out of fifty billion dollars? Anyone who questioned his "investment" scheme was thought to be stupid.

Now there are some people who will never admit to having a blind spot--narcissist and other self-absorbed people come to mind. But, for the rest of us, especially during this Festivus season (I couldn't resist), it is important to remember that we do have some places in our lives where there is a lack of awareness and need to ask for God's help to see them. The Lord may send a mean-spirited critic to help us see. Our worst critics can be our best friends if there is truth in their criticisms. The Lord has given us His Word, His Spirit, teachers, preachers, counselors and may be even a mean-spirited critic to help us see.

Grace&Peace,
Tom