If you have ever had a vision test, you probably recall being asked to read the smallest line that you can see clearly on an eye chart. Then you may have received eyedrops and additional tests to determine the best optics for you. When you look through a series of lenses, you tell the doctor which ones are blurry or clear, and adjustments are made to achieve the right focus. The results will determine whether or not you need corrective lenses. But if you are not honest about what you see, you are not helping the doctor or yourself.

When Jesus walked along the street into Bethsaida, he was interrupted by the friends of a man who was blind, asking Jesus to heal him. Jesus spat and put his hands on the man’s eyes. He asked the man what he could see. The man’s response was honest, and he talked about seeing people that looked like walking trees. There was vision, but it was not yet clear. Jesus touched the man a second time, and his ­vision became clear.

There are times when we do not see clearly, even though we know Jesus is making changes for us. Sometimes we stumble along with blurred ­vision. That is usually our problem. We need to follow Jesus carefully, and we need to ask him to continue working in our situations so that we too can see clearly.