02.01.2010    Michael Fox CPCC, founder of m�agine!, is a professional coach and trainer, author and creative artist, whose work has been featured throughout the world. Michael is a Certified Practitioner of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.� Do you know someone who might benefit from our weekly email?   "Open my eyes that I may see"    It undoubtedly qualifies as Jesus' most unusual miracle. One day Jesus visited Bethsaida, a town of Galilee just east of the Jordan River. Some from the village, hearing of Jesus' visit, brought a blind neighbor to Jesus with the hope their friend's sight might be restored. Jesus led the blind man from the city, ever cautious of prematurely peaking the enthusiasm of the populace. Jesus applied his spittle to the eyes of the man and laid his hands upon him. "Do you see anything?," Jesus inquired. The man opened his eyes, rubbed them, squinted, and replied, "I see men. They look like walking trees" (Mark 8:22-26). He could see figures and movement--certainly an improvement--but less than he'd anticipated. Well, that was kind of embarrassing. Unless Jesus was making a point, which we assume he was; because, otherwise, he batted a thousand. Once again Jesus laid his hands on the eyes of the blind man. Once again, this time with a bit of trepidation, the blind man peered about. To his delight, he could distinguish trees from men. And the trees stayed put, while the men walked about. In the New Testament, physical blindness is often employed as a metaphor for a lack of knowledge or discernment (for example, John 12:40; Romans 2:19; 2 Peter 1:9). Today we, in fact, still use blindness as a metaphor. We talk about blind dates, double blind clinical studies, the blind leading the blind. So what was Jesus' intention when he restored the blind man's sight gradually, rather than immediately? Perhaps the answer is to be found in the one miracle Jesus never performed, the one miracle Jesus never even attempted. He opened the eyes of the blind; he restored the leper; he fed the hungry; he cured the epileptic; he cast out demons; he raised the dead. But he never miraculously healed a man or a woman of spiritual blindness, or poor character. For spiritual formation is a process, not an event. Even Jesus, as a youth, "kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men" (Luke 2:42). Kept increasing...think...gradual growth. Paul confirmed as much when he wrote the Christians at Corinth, "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit" ( 2 Corinthians 3:18). From glory to glory...think...incrementally. To the Galatians Paul wrote, "My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you..." (Galatians 4:19). Labor and formed...think...a period of gestation. For spiritual formation is a process, not an event. So, what's the learning? Is your spiritual perception stuck on, "Men as trees walking?" What do you need for greater knowledge and discernment, and where will you find it? Are you sufficiently patient with yourself and others? Who can you be to encourage others to move from one plateau to another? What would you think of the fellow, formerly blind, if he'd opened his eyes after Jesus' initial attempt and immediately began to condemn the way his fellow neighbors--and their trees--comported themselves? If spiritual formation is indeed a process and not an event, who are we to determine when we are sufficiently mature to render judgment? Michael Fox m�agine! 530/613.2774 407 Myrtle Drive Farmerville, LA, USA 71241   In addition to personal and professional coaching, m�agine! specializes in spiritual transformation coaching, employing its proprietary models --Values, Vision, Voice and Heart, Soul, Mind & Strength-- as well as Myers-Briggs Type Indicator� curriculum published by CPP, the People Development People. Michael's books include  Complete in Christ, Complete in Christ Spiritual Transformation Workbook, and Biblio�files. Coaching fees are based upon a sliding scale. Contact us for details. For additional information, visit our website at maginethepossibilities.net. Limited scholarships are available for spiritual transformation coaching. On the flip side, if you are able, please inquire about opportunities to fund scholarships for those who cannot afford coaching fees. View our archives!