How many times a day do you converse with people and they either begin or conclude the conversation with “it’s good to see you”? For me, that greeting is a constant, wonder-filled reminder that sight is a miracle. The gift of sight is not possessed by every individual in the world, and not all who possess sight have it to the same degree. Generally speaking, most folks come into this world seeing in high definition, brilliant living color and perfectly synced with hearing. As I write these words, I am freshly struck at this creative marvel.
While the whole anatomy of the eye participates in providing sight, it is the small cluster of cells on the back of the retina called the “macula” which gives us the ability to distinguish details allowing us to read and recognize faces. Peripheral vision does not assist in reading. We may recognize a person coming toward us from the side with our peripheral vision, but only by shape and movement. We may be able to identify a word by its shape but not by letters.
Stop reading for a moment and look a word in the center of one of these lines. Focus on it. Without moving your eye, count the number of words you can actually distinguish by their letters to the left or right. That is why God gave us rotating eyeballs. Pretty cool, isn’t it?
My macula is slowly degenerating. Reading and measuring have become more difficult. My doctors have advised me to take large doses of vitamin E, and to see them twice a year. I am very intent upon following their advice. The macula cannot be regenerated, nor can the disease be stopped. But it can be slowed. I will do whatever it takes to slow the degeneration as much as possible.
Now take a moment to reflect on a bit of wisdom the Apostle Paul gave us from his own experience in living out his Kingdom adventure, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith.” Notice Jesus is not in the “field” of vision. He is the “focus” of our vision. Where Jesus is in your line of sight matters a great deal. It always will.
Take care of your spiritual “macula” so it can take care of you.
Photograph: Fred Baldwin. This is an old shed behind our house
Baldwin Heirlooms 
Great message! I’m sorry about your eye condition but glad you are addressing it. I think it runs in the family…🙂
BTW, not only are you a great writer but you’re also a great photographer. Thanks for sharing your reflections!
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I have the same degenerative retinal disease that mom had. I also learned that mom and I, as well as 4 of my 5 kids who were tested all have a mutation in the gene known as MTHFR. This mutation affects our ability to rid our bodies of toxins. Many retinal disease are apparently caused by toxins that accumulate in the retinal tissue and cause the cells to “die”. I put that word in quotations because I put mom on supplements for her eyes for several months one year, and the retinal specialist couldn’t understand why one of the specialized photos seemed to show less damage than the photo taken in the year before. I pointed it out to him and he said, “Retinal tissue does not regenerate.”, So I lost the winds from my sails, and quit buying the supplements. I believed the expert over the improvement I saw with my own damaged eyes. What if the retinal cells aren’t dead at all, but bogged down with toxins that our bodies can’t readily remove because of the gene mutation? I’d be interested to know if you have the mutation too. BTW most doctors act like I’m nuts when I express concern over the mutation. But it’s known to contribute to the development of autoimmune disorders too. I have Hashimotos thyroid and my son has Type 1 diabetes; both autoimmune. I had heard of no T1 diabetes in our family anywhere until I talked to Ann Baldwin and learned that LeighAnn has it. Wonder if she has the MTHFR mutation as well? Grandpa Saulsbury supposedly had macular degeneration and Grandmother supposedly had a familial retinal disease so we’re getting blasted from both sides of the family. I’m just thinking there’s more to the story…,
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