Mari,

Just plain Mari?  You took off your robe of royalty? A cowboy minus his 
boots is still a cowboy. A pianist without her piano is still a pianist, 
Phil without his hair is still Phil... whups sorry about that one Phil :). 
So No matter the dress or objects we have we are still who we are 
regardless. :) Years ago I sought out healing, and was in fact physically 
healed to some degree in the midst of a prayer time,  anyway I was seeking 
it to a point of which I finally realized that being healed had become my 
god. I was seeking the gift and not the gift giver. I've seen varying 
degrees and extremes of beliefs in such and justifications for why folks 
believe as such, which is their, as well as my,  right to  choose. A 
sometimes difficult place to be in is having the living and breathing 
desire to be healed, and yet with the peace of mind and willing to wait for 
it to come be it now or when we are out of here. It is not for the faint of 
heart to be in that place, toe to the finish line and waiting for the 
checker flag to wave. Frustration at times, yes, sucks at times, yes, but 
yet being at piece with who we are. Blindness  is not me,  it is part of 
how I live, but is not who I am. Some may feel that is who they are which 
is OK if that is how they manage it, but for me it brings too much focus on 
something I'd rather not be, just if I'd view myself daily as a graying 
Brad, getting older and older by the day, and focused on getting older 
rather than  just acknowledging that is where I am currently yet feeling as 
young as I did when I was 20 in mind if not in body some of the time, 
although that is rare which I'm thankful for. Because blindness stinks 
doesn't mean I stink sniff sniff... nope all clear :) Would I give  almost 
anything to see again? Yep. Am I willing to give up my daily peace in my 
leap for it? No. That is the wrong race. Blindness might be our $10,000 
debt owed, but remember we are getting paid $10,000, God said the checks in 
the mail,  we're just waiting for the check to get here :)

Brad





At 04:42 PM 6/6/2007, you wrote:

>Right on, Brad! I'm certainly in that place. Blindness sucks the big one! 
>What a long awful trip it's been! I want to see so bad I can taste it!!
>
>
>Welcome back Brad,
>
>Just plain Mari right now.
>
>
>On Monday 6/4/2007 10:40 AM, MV said:
>
>>Kathy and all,
>>
>>I've got a blind friend and we got to talking a few years back about 
>>seeing again or not. He honestly, and with conviction said if he had the 
>>choice to see again or not, he'd choose not as his life has adjusted to 
>>it. Friends, job, the way he does things, everything. I've never truely 
>>understood that. I understand it from the point of comfort zone in where 
>>one is presently at in life, but frankly I don't understand it in the 
>>heart and what it would mean. The other day my wife and I were saying 
>>grace over the meal and my daughter walked up just as I said... "thanks 
>>Lord for the provision you've given" and she didn't hear the "pro" part 
>>and said... "Vision?" questioningly, new word :), and I said. "No kiddo, 
>>if  it were vision I'd be scaling our six foot fence jumping all around 
>>and you probably wouldn't see me for a month". I've often told my wife if 
>>that day comes? I can see again, I'm jumping in a car and traveling this 
>>country for a month straight no matter what the cost.
>>
>>I have thoughts on why folks embrace it as  such, especially when it 
>>comes to God,  healing possibilities, when it doesn't happen and 
>>beliefs  that follow and etc. but they are probably best not mentioned on 
>>list as to not hurt or offend anyone.
>>
>>And. Its good to be back on list... I missed all you E stinkers. hahahaha
>>
>>Babababababababababbababb babblin Brad