Cataract Conversations

Today is my 49th birthday. I know what you are probably thinking. You don’t think I look a day over 35. To that I’d say thank you and that I owe it all to my hairdresser for keeping my gray hairs at bay for the last ten plus years. 

The truth is that last year I had to have cataract surgery. Yes, that eye condition that normally affects people in the nursing home community, came knocking at my optic door. In fact for about a year prior to my surgery I was nearly blind in my right eye. Upon closing my left I could barely see anything. 

A cataract basically clouds the lens of the eye, making it difficult to see the details of what is really there. They progress over time and in the spring of this year I knew it was time to go under the knife and get mine taken care of. My sister in law offered to drive me to the procedure, and confident that she’d be the least likely to videotape me while I was under the influence of the anesthesia, I took her up on her offer. Over the next two days, we spent a lot of time in the car, driving to and from the hospital for the procedure and a subsequent follow up appointment. Those drives were precious to me as I used the time to share some of my doubts and struggles present in my life at the time. She responded by giving me her perspective of what God was up to.

Her encouragement and outlook brought much clarity to my circumstances. It was as if I was undergoing not only a physical cataract surgery, but also a cataract surgery of the soul as cloudy places were becoming more clear. The reality of my life’s details were coming into focus as she shared what she observed from her vantage point. 

I believe that God wants to use us as His instruments to bring similar clarity to the cloudy places in the lives of those around us.

Proverbs 18 speaks to the truth that our words carry power. We get to choose whether or not our words bring life or death. Ephesians 4:29 says, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” 

In our busy day to day, it’s often hard to “find” the time to speak a word of encouragement. However, knowing the power that God has intended with encouraging words, I think it’s important that we take the time to have intentional conversations and offer specific words as we are led to do so.

Here are three simple practices I have begun to put into place in having “cataract conversations”, knowing that I don’t want to miss an opportunity from My Father to be used in another person’s story.

Seek to be Submissive:

Encouragement is great, but it’s even better when the word is motivated by the Holy Spirit. I try to remain open to His guidance throughout the day. Who is it that He may want to encourage? Who needs space to be vulnerable about their unique challenges? Who desperately needs to know that they are seen and valuable? Oftentimes I will be reminded of a name or a face. It’s at that time that I slow down and ask God if He has something specific He wants to say.

Speak in Specifics:

Anyone can send a text that says “thinking about you” or “so grateful for you”. I’m not implying that those types of brief sentiments are worthless, but how much more do we desire to hear edifying remarks that are distinct to our unique situation? Here’s where we take the time, once a person is brought to mind, to ask the Holy Spirit if He has something He wants us to specifically ask or say to the individual. We may have to wait and see what impression He leaves with us. We might have to give it some time, but I’ve found that nine times out of ten when He brings a person to mind, He also gives me perspective so that I can say something meaningful and intentional. 

Stay Selfless:

I have to admit that I am a people pleaser, so it’s very easy for me to encourage with the expectation that my words will be met with gratitude and blessing. But I am learning that exhorting others is not necessarily for the deliverer of the words. Our job is not to give an encouraging statement because we want to feel good afterwards. Our only assignment is to be obedient with our encouragement as the Holy Spirit directs. Whether what we receive on the other end of the conversation is indebtedness or indifference, we have pleased God in the delivery. The rest is out of our hands. Our motivation is not measured by man’s reaction, but rather by God’s. Our words are meant to build up others, not to build up ourselves.

Can you imagine a world in which we remained in such a posture of intentional encouragement?

What would it look like for God’s people to be a surgical mouthpiece to bring clarity to the clouds that are causing confusion and chaos in the lives of those around them?

How many people are walking around with cataracts around their hearts, not being able to decipher clearly what God is up to? How many of these cloudy lenses lead to a people who are unsure of God’s goodness and ultimate righteousness?

My prayer in my last year of this decade of my life is that the greater percentage of what I say would be used by God to encourage, edify and exhort others. I want to remain open to the Holy Spirit’s leading in who is suffering with a cataract of the soul and needs fresh vision. And I want to leave space within each 24 hour period to intentionally seek Him before speaking. 

As Psalm 19:14 imparts, “May the words of my mouth, my meditation-thoughts, and every movement of my heart be always pure and pleasing, acceptable before your eyes, Yahweh, my only Redeemer, my Protector.”