A Sense of Sight
How well do we really see?
by Helen Redfern (revised, originally published in 2005)
Suitable for Whole School (Sec)
Aims
To reflect upon spiritual blindness.
Preparation and materials
- Note: please be aware that the issue of visual impairment is a sensitive one and the content of this assembly should be approached with care.
- Optional: you may wish to show the students the work of blind painter, John Bramblitt, in which case you will also need the means to do so. Some of John’s work and an outline of his story is available at: https://tinyurl.com/yxq54knj
- Have available an image of a busy scene and the means to display it during the assembly. An example is available at: https://tinyurl.com/y54w7p8g
Alternatively, ask the students to take a good look around the room! - You will need the Bible passage found at Mark 10.46-52. You may wish to arrange for a student to read it. The passage is available at: https://tinyurl.com/yydjluzr
- You may wish to play music as the poem is read during the ‘Time for reflection’ part of the assembly. Suitable music is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuPcxLjVxtg
Assembly
- Being able to see is a great gift. We can be amazed by the beauty of God’s creation, enjoy watching an exciting film at the cinema and appreciate the good looks of a pop star or sports personality!
- Many people in this world cannot see. Many of them live full and wonderful lives, achieving great things.
Optional: show the work of blind painter, John Bramblitt. - Many of us will have friends or relatives who have difficulties with their eyes. The world would become a completely different place without sight.
- Most of us take being able to see for granted, but just how much do we see even when we are really looking?
Show the image of a busy scene or ask the students to have a good look around the room. - Give the students one minute to look really carefully and then hide the picture or ask them all to close their eyes. You can either ask the students to work with the people close to them or ask for responses from the room.
- Ask the students ten quick questions about what they were looking at. Ask for an indication of how well they did. Did they find the questions easy or hard? Which ones gave them the most trouble?
- Explain that there are several stories in the Bible where Jesus enables blind people to see.
Read or ask a student to read Mark 10.46–52.
Time for reflection
The man in the story was desperate to see and Jesus made him see again. How amazing! The man must have been overjoyed. Seeing with our eyes is important, but the Bible also talks about seeing with our hearts, and this is really what matters as we go through life.
Read the following meditation based on the Bible passages Isaiah 59.9-10, John 8.12, 1 John 2.11 and Ephesians 1.18.
Spiritual sight
Sometimes, we feel in the dark.
We don’t know the way to go.
We can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel.
We hope for light to walk by, but there is only darkness.
We grope about like blind people.
Jesus said, ‘I am the light of the world.’
Let the eyes of our hearts be opened.
Sometimes, we are so hurt we can’t see straight.
Anger clouds our eyes; we see red.
Hate plunges us into darkness.
We walk on into resentment and bitterness and do not know where we are going, because darkness has made us blind.
Jesus said, ‘I am the light of the world.’
Let the eyes of our hearts be opened.
Let the eyes of our hearts be opened to light.
Let the eyes of our hearts be opened to love.
Let the eyes of our hearts be opened to hope.
Let the eyes of our hearts be opened.
Prayer
Thank you, God, for the gift of sight.
Help us not to take it for granted, but to enjoy all that looks so beautiful in the world around us.
Help us to remember those who cannot see;
Help us to show consideration and kindness to them, rejoicing in their courage and achievements.
Show us how the eyes of our hearts can be opened to your light and love.
Amen.
Song/music
‘Taizé – O Lord, hear my prayer’, available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuPcxLjVxtg
