How to Have 20/25 Vision

O Lord, why do you make me see wrongdoing and look at trouble? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. … Then the Lord answered me and said: There is still a vision for the appointed time; it speaks of the end and does not lie. If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. – Habakkuk 1:3, 2:3 (NRSV) 

My Grampa Phinney was a health nut. Long before hippies existed (which he, an engineer with his crisp white button-down and pocket protectors, never became), he trumpeted the benefits of mega-doses of vitamin C and apple cider vinegar.  

He was also certain he knew how to prevent the vision loss that comes with aging. His daily practice: to hold a pencil vertically about 2 feet in front of his face, and toggle between focusing on the pencil and focusing on the farthest thing his eye could see. He himself never wore glasses, even well into old age.  

Grampa’s advice works metaphorically for these tempestuous times. Lots of us are on a news diet … but to look away from what is happening far from us is to abdicate responsibility for far-flung people who are suffering, and deserve compassion and advocacy. But then again, if we only look far away, we get overwhelmed and shut down. The human psyche has not evolved to take in so many threats far beyond our immediate neighborhood.  

Toggling between near and far, á la Grampa, is the exercise that may keep our vision (and sanity) intact. Look far, look near. Look far, look near.  

Prayer
God, you still have a vision that extends beyond the current global landscape of destruction and violence, strife and contention. You make us see wrongdoing so we may do our part to right it. You also help us look close to home in equal measure: at the joy and peace right in hand, right in our ‘hood.

About the Author
Rev. Molly Baskette is the lead pastor of First Church Berkeley UCC and the author of books about church renewal, parenting, spiritual growth and more. Sign up for her author newsletter or get information about her newest book at mollybaskette.com.