BLIND EVEN WITH EYES!

Of the five senses, the sense of sight does a world of good for those fortunate to have received this gift. 

We are so lucky!

EyeSight is a wonderful gift of God. 

We can ‘see’ so many of His wonders.

Indeed, the world is a wonderful place. 

But, do we really ‘see’?

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In the song ‘Frozen’, Madonna sang-

“You only see what your eyes want to see. How can life be what you want it to be…”

Many of us have eyesight, yet we are blind!

Take my case, for example!

When I was small, I looked and looked for my box of crayons, but couldn’t find it in the drawer where I had kept it. I sincerely prayed to God as this was my first reason to pray! Later, when I looked, I found it very much there in the same drawer where I had kept it!

How could I have missed it when I looked at it?

Yesterday, I noticed that the chairs, placed on the footpath on the bank of the Mahanadi river, have the ‘Konark’ Wheel artistically designed on them!

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I have crossed that road with the same chairs so many times and yet never noticed this before!

How could I have missed it when I looked at it?

Adding to all this are the innumerable cases in which I have tried to ‘find’ or ‘search’ for things like glasses, pens, mobile phones, keys etc. all of which are present right in front of my eyes, yet are invisible! I ‘see’ them when others point them out to me!

How could I have missed it when I looked at it?

Of course, they are puzzled how I can not see the thing(s) even though they are right in front of me! 

When they do the same (i.e. not 'see' the things in front of them!) it's my turn to point the same!
How could they have missed it when they looked at it?

All these incidents prove that though we are lucky to possess eyesight, yet we have been blind!

This reminded me of a story from Akbar & Birbal*. 

* Akbar & Birbal- Birbal was known for his wit and was one of the nine gems in Emperor Akbar’s Kingdom in India. There are lots of interesting stories about Akbar & Birbal. 

The following is one such story I had read and am presenting here from my memory... 

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When Emperor Akbar wants to know about the number of ‘Blind’ people in his Kingdom, Birbal challenges him that the number is far higher than the Census declares and that he would prove so! 

One day, Birbal sits on the middle of the road and is busy creating a cot. Though everyone can see exactly what Birbal is doing (creating a cot!), still all the people stop by and ask Birbal what he’s doing!

Birbal just keeps adding to the count (of Blind people!) When Emperor Akbar also enquires the same question to Birbal, Birbal even adds the Emperor’s name to the same list! On getting the explanation, Emperor Akbar agrees to Birbal’s logic and proof!

Indeed, the number of Blind persons far exceeds as the people with eyesight also get included to the same list!

It takes a wise Emperor like Akbar, the Great, to recognize and acknowledge this fact!
How many of us will take it kindly if we are told that we are blind?!!!

Have you ever been ‘blind’?

Have things in front escaped your eyes/mind?!