super, fried, or fresh pineapple

Have you ever stopped to wonder how different the world would be, if... if we lived our entire lives with our eyes closed? Recently, for those of you who don't know, I've moved to a new area of the U.S. Even though Erie isn't that big, it's REALLY big compared to little ol' Aberdaber! I've been here nearly a week and a half, and my car is still stuffed full of stuff. Why? Some might say it's a lack of motivation, which, I'll admit, plays a little bit of a part, but more so, there is an obstacle in my way. Every time I go downstairs, or come upstairs, this obstacle tends to open the door for me, and strike up a conversation, and one time, even gave me a hug. Odd??? For a bigger city...I think so.


Now, normally, I'm a bit of a chicken. So now, more than ever before, I am a super chicken. Big time. But anyway, on with my reasons for this post... With this constant fear, I come running up the stairs, in hope not to encounter this obstacle. I unlock my door, only to come in, close the door, and then quickly re-lock. With that, I let out a big sigh of relief, and just rest a second, with my eyes closed. Sometimes I'll stand there, right by the door, for a mere ten seconds, and the next time I'll find myself still standing there after ten minutes. In that time, my brain started wandering. What makes me so scared of this obstacle? What makes me feel that this obstacle is any stronger than me? Although I don't like to admit it, I find the answer to that question easy... it's the obstacle's appearance. This obstacle is much larger than me, and more fierce... nonetheless, if the two of us were to enter a boxing ring, Super Chicken would become Fried Chicken... I prefer the "super" title.


Back to the question that brought this post about... how different would the world be if we lived with our eyes closed? Would my car be unloaded by now? Would I have defeated this obstacle...or would the obstacle be non-existent, and only appear to be a friendly neighbor? I can't help but think that if I never would have seen this "obstacle" of mine, that I may just feel a bit more confident, and I sure as heck would have my car unloaded! How many other times throughout the day do our eyes limit us to what we can accomplish? Don't get me wrong, I so appreciate my sight, and feel ever so blessed that I have nearly 20/20 vision... but somedays I feel that it limits the potential we all have.


When driving down I-79, there are constantly things blocking the true beauty of vision... billboard here, road construction signs there, and garbage EVERYWHERE! It's like these distractions are what we see everywhere we look. Instead of seeing the true beauty that exists everywhere, we see only the big, bright, colorful, hideous, unattractiveness of it all. It's kind of like the phrase, "Don't judge a book by it's cover." How many great friendships, or even relationships have I missed out on because I was too busy using my eyes to judge others? How many opportunities have I avoided or not wanted to be a part of because of what I saw?


What happens when you close your eyes and listen to the beauty of it all? These past few days, I've listened to the beauty, and saw beautiful things, with my eyes closed. How is this possible? Try it. Close your eyes and the images that can be created are unlimited. Your imagination takes over. I realize that somethings in life our enjoyed through sight as well... I mean there is nothing more beautiful then seeing a mother dance with her son at a wedding, or seeing a young child help an elderly person cross the street.

I encourage you, when these events occur, see them, and then close your eyes and savor the moment. Don't be "blinded" by the car drivers giving them the bird and cursing at them to get across the street... or the drunk, obnoxious people at a wedding, distracting others from the dance. At the grocery store, taste the fresh pineapple, and mango, and enjoy it. Close your eyes, and live in the moment. It may be $3.00, but don't let it blind you from the beauty of it's taste. YOU, my friend, are worth it.


Don't be a chicken, close your eyes... the results are priceless, and the beauty is beyond capable of what your eyes themselves can capture.


Love and Blue Eyes,
Super Chicken