It’s an open HA (Humans Anonymous) meeting today. The regulars are encouraged to invite family and friends who might be interested in lying down in green pastures or resting beside still waters. I just saw My Lily come in with her friend Bart. He was born blind and requires continuous help in navigating around in the world. Lily always holds him firmly by the hand and gently leads him to his destination. We usually have guest speakers at the open meetings. We asked Bart to share his story with us. Lily has brought him up to the speaker’s podium. He’s asked her to stay there with him. “We’re all open ears, Bart.”
“My name is Bartimaeus. When my mom was pregnant, she heard a Voice in a dream one night that whispered my name to her. My friends call me Bart. I have never seen light. I have always lived in darkness. My parents have tried everything possible to enable me to see. I’ve had multiple surgeries, countless therapies, endless consultations, daily visits to the healing centers. . .but nothing has helped.
The only hope that I have, comes from a bedtime story that my mom and dad would read to me to help me fall asleep. I wanted to share my hope with you, so I asked Lily to read the story to you.
“Once upon a time, Jesus was traveling to the town of Jericho with His friends and there was a blind sheep named Bartimaeus, sitting along the roadside, bleating for help. His wooly coat had become blackened. He was hungry and thirsty. Every day he had to beg for food and water. He felt so sad and lonely.
He could hear the crowd of people coming down the road and someone shouted out that Jesus was with them. So Bartimaeus started crying out, ‘Jesus please help me.’ Others in the crowd told him to stop bothering Jesus with his begging, but it just made him cry out all the more. Jesus was his last resort.
Jesus stopped and asked the others to bring the little blind sheep over to Him. They held him by the hand and said, ‘Be hopeful, the Healer has called you to Him.’ Jesus put His arm around him and said, ‘What do you need me to do for you?’ Bartimaeus told Him that he wanted eyes to see.
Jesus said to him, “I knew you before time, Bart. This moment was destined to happen. I have always known that we would meet along this roadside. My Father arranged all of this for you so that I could Love you and give you eyes that can see.” Then Jesus kissed him on the forehead and immediately Bartimaeus’ sight was restored. . .and at first, all he could see was Jesus. From that day on, the Lord took him by the hand and never let go.”
There isn’t a dry eye at the meeting right now. One of the colt’s of a wild ass has just raised his hand. He’s our historian 
and loves to research the origin and meaning of the names of the sheep. “Yes, Love?”‘
“Bart’s name comes from the Greek language and means, ‘a son of God; a colt; very fruitful; mighty; an appointed one; one who is predestined to receive eyes that see and ears that hear. . .and wings to fly.” Lily is holding Bart in her arms and he is sobbing. He’s trying to say something to her. . .
“I have been dealing with an issue about visitation with my son. I have written a note to his mom, the best that I could in the dark. I said, ‘You don’t trust me. I don’t trust you. . .I go into shutdown, knowing that working with you on this will be an impossibility. Knowing full well that I am automatically the bad guy if I don’t say yes and there is no other option. . .and it festers and festers. . .you have your side and I have mine.
I am just now with a tear streaming down my cheek. . .thinking what’s the point unless there is a secret working to bring about something that no one could ever imagine coming from such a Hell as this. . .unless there was something that I could see that I’ve never seen before.” And then Bart turned to all of us. His eyes are shining and His voice is full of life. . .
” The only thing that I can say that will make this Right -for Aaron- is to say Yes to what you want for him. I will tell him that I am 100% committed for his sake to make this happen – It will be a priority in my life. . .If this is acceptable, then this might be a first step in establishing some sort of mutual respect that neither you nor me were ever empowered with – it was far beyond both of us.”
There’s a truth hanging on the wall next to the Serenity Prayer. We all see it when we come and go from the meeting. It says, “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saves a sheep like me. I once was lost, but now I’m found; was blind but now I see.” We see with wide-open eyes, as if at something Remarkable. Behold the Lamb of God. . .the Divine Seeing- Eye of the flock.
Freely given. Freely received. Free to all the blind ones.
A Good Moment 