Vision

There’s seeing and there’s seeing.

I suppose if I need quotes to qualify my meaning, the one that comes to mind is: “There are none so blind as those who will not see.”

This is a saying with biblical roots:

Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not.
- Jeremiah 5:21 (KJV)

Therefore I speak to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
- Mathew 13:13 (KJV)

Being visually impaired, it is natural that I enjoy quotes about blindness, especially when they go beyond the mere lack of sight.

My niece Debra sent me this one:

A blind person asked Swami Vivekanand: "Can there be anything worse than losing eye sight?" He replied: "Yes, losing your vision!"

Debra made my day when she went on to say, “That is what impresses me about you every day: you stay focused on the future; you never lose your vision. You are an inspiration to all who have the pleasure of knowing you.”

Nice.

And, here’s a plea from one of history’s greatest and most versatile men:

“Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!”
- Leonardo da Vinci

Looking back, I believe I transitioned to adulthood accompanied by the music of the great Ray Charles. My favorite quote comes from Mr. Charles, who if you really think about it, probably explains my meaning best of all:

Someone once asked Ray Charles what the worst thing about being blind is. He immediately replied, “Well, you can’t see.”