The thing that is at the forefront of my dislike of old age is my eyesight. Since I’ve had my cataract surgery, I’m finding it difficult to read, and it gets no better, no matter which strength reading glasses I use. I wear contacts now for astigmatism. I never had it before the surgery. For overall vision, I’m good. It’s just my ability to read. It hinders my writing. It reminds me of when I was in school. I was a voracious reader through the fourth grade. I read every Hardy Boys mysteries and started on Nancy Drew mysteries. Then my vision went downhill, and I lost interest in reading because of my frustration with trying to focus on reading my books. I unhooked from school lessons as well, since I could not see the text. I went from an A student to failing. My teachers told my parents I needed my eyes examined, but that didn’t happen until I was between my sixth and seventh grade years. I felt really good about being able to see again, but had already developed a bad habit of not caring about school. My grades suffered throughout high school, and I had to go to summer school after my second year as a sophomore. I would go to my junior year, but I would not graduate with my original class without summer school. That was my wakeup call.

I applied myself and finished my senior year with two A’s and two B’s, and a C. I wasn’t dumb. I had lived in a world of disinterest because of those two or three years of not being able to see. It took longer to get past what my vision had done to me. Now, as I’m older, my vision is once again challenging me. I refuse to fall for it this time. I know what it can do if allowed. I still have so much to learn from my studies.

I’m presently putting together a class lesson on First Principles for Christian Living. There are six presented to us in Hebrews 6. I’m down to the fourth principle, and I’m determined to complete this. I know where this can be taught, but when and where is open to whatever God wants me to do. There are a lot of Christians not knowing these simple principles. Lately, I’ve had two specific instances where people that became newborn Christians ask the question, “What do I do now?” My vision should not hinder me from putting together instructions on what they need to know.