Speaking of seeing things the fact is that I haven't been able to do so for a couple of months out of my left eye. I told several folks that I felt like John Wayne's character, Rooster Cogburn, in the movie "True Grit." The character, known for his trademark black eye patch referred to himself as "a one-eyed fat man." Hey - if the shoe fits you wear it - right?
Anyway, I hope all of that is changing. Last week I underwent a surgical procedure on the eye known as Vitrectomy (and no, it's not any kin to that other surgical procedure that begins with a "v!" In a vitrectomy the surgeon makes an incision in the eye and removes the blood-filled vitreous (clear naturally occuring gel inside the eye) and replaces it with a clear solution. In the process of this procedure it was discovered that I had a slight tear in the retina which required repair and the insertion of a gas bubble in the eye. Following the surgery I had to lay on my side looking down for 72 hours. Sound like fun? I was about to go nuts! I know several folks who have had to do this for a much longer period of time. All I can say is they are much better patients than I am.
Today, six days out from surgery I am beginning to see again out of the eye. It's very faint and unfocused but the doctor assures me it will clear up given time. I'm reminded of Paul's comment in 1 Cor. 13:12 - "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face." I am so thankful to be on the road to having full vision once again.
I'd like to say "thanks." First - thanks to my loving Heavenly Father for his blessings and for enabling some very talented people such as my physician, Dr. Lawrence Gordon and his assistants as well as the nurses and staff at St. Francis Hospital who cared for me so beautifully. I also want to thank my brother and shepherd Marty Brownfield for standing in for me Sunday and preaching a magnificent message on prayer. Thanks to Bud Hall for filling in teaching my Sunday School class and to my shepherd Phil Anderson for coming and staying in the room with Tami while I was in surgery. Thanks to all of our elders here at Goodman Oaks for their special help and their insistance that I take time to heal and recover properly. How blessed I am.
So that's how I see it today! And thankfully I will see it even better tomorrow!
