Blindfolded
Have you ever been in situation where you were almost completely unable to see? Maybe a blinding snowstorm? Deep in the heart of a mountain while spelunking? In a remote area of woods with no ambient light? Losing sight can be disorienting, even frightening.
I was reminded of this recently through a passage from our old friend J.R.R. Tolkien and his tale of Frodo carrying the ring of power to Mt. Doom. Two times in their journey, Frodo and companions are blindfolded and led by others. The first is by the elves of Lothlorien and the second was by Faramir in the woods of Ithilien as they are led into their waterfall sanctuary. As noted above, it is no fun to be blindfolded. You lose all sense of who you are and where you are. It can be very disorienting, even to the point of making one physically sick. Yet in each of these cases, Frodo and companions were well cared for along the way and the blindfolds were removed in an oasis the likes of which they could not have imagined.
Twenty nine years ago this week our oldest daughter, Madilyn, was born. When she was born, we knew that she had some heart problems, but needless to say, Lisa and I were very much in the dark over the course of the next three and a half months, enduring hospitals, surgeries, a beautiful, tiny girl with such a tenuous grasp on life, until she was finally taken from us. It was disorienting. This was not how we expected parenthood to go. We were very much in the dark.
I don't share this because we have come through the darkness and all is light. We still do not have all the answers as to why this short life; and there have been other "blindfold" moments along the way. But I share it to give testimony to the fact that we were cared for along the way, and though we had moments in which we stumbled, God, through his word and his saints was faithful to us.
One truth that has become meaningful is captured so well in Psalm 25:8–10:
Good and upright is the LORD;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
He leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches the humble his way.
All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.
We are able to walk in the dark because we trust the one who is leading us. He is good and upright. All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness. Though we may be disoriented he sees clearly. Though we may not understand where he is leading, there is an oasis of refreshment waiting.
I know that some of you are "blindfolded" even now. It is hard. It can be disorienting. Don't give up on the Lord. All his paths are steadfast love and faithfulness.
Photo by Cherry Laithang on Unsplash