At first, it was just small things, like the print in her Bible seemed to shrink, and she found herself holding it closer to her face, that is until the tablet was introduced into her life and then she quickly learned how to enlarge the font. But before long, the road signs at night became harder to read, and she started avoiding driving after dark. Her passion for needlepoint, once a relaxing pastime, turned into a frustrating chore as the tiny stitches blurred before her eyes. Carla shrugged it off, attributing it to tiredness or poor lighting.

She went about her daily life with a smile, despite a growing problem she hadn't fully acknowledged—her eyesight was failing.

As days turned into months, her world grew increasingly hazy. Yet, Carla adapted without realizing the full extent of her problem. She memorized the layout of her home and the paths she walked, relying on muscle memory more than sight. She didn't notice that the vibrant world around her had dulled to a shadow of its former self.

One sunny afternoon, Carla met her friend Tanya for lunch at a quaint little café nestled on the corner of their Main Street. The café, adorned with hanging plants and colorful cushions, was bustling with the cheerful chatter of patrons and the clinking of china. Carla and Tanya settled into a cozy nook by the window, sunlight streaming in and casting a warm glow over their table.

As they chatted and laughed, Tanya noticed Carla squinting at the menu. Carla held it at arm's length, then brought it closer, tilting it towards the light. Despite her efforts, the words remained a blur. With a sigh, she put the menu down and looked at Tanya with a sheepish smile.

Carla knew that she was unable to make out anything on the menu and was considering asking Tanya for help, but before she could open her mouth, the waiter arrived. He was a young man with a friendly smile and a patient demeanor. Carla decided to ask for his help directly.

"I'm having a bit of trouble understanding the menu," she said, “it’s been so long since I’ve been to a place as fancy as this,” her voice tinged with embarrassment. "Could you recommend something for me?"

The waiter, eager to assist, began listing off options. "Certainly, ma'am. How about our roasted vegetable quiche?"

Carla shook her head. "I'm not a fan of quiche, unfortunately."

"Alright," he continued, "perhaps our smoked salmon salad?"

"I'm allergic to seafood," Carla responded, her cheeks reddening slightly.

The waiter remained unfazed and offered another suggestion. "We have a lovely chicken and avocado sandwich with a caper vinaigrette dressing."

Carla made a face. "I love avocado, but I’m not too thrilled about capers."

Tanya watched the exchange with a mix of amusement and sympathy as the waiter continued to list items. Carla rejected a few more options, either due to personal taste or dietary restrictions. Finally, after several attempts, she settled on a dish that sounded as if it would taste good.

When the food arrived, Carla eyed her plate with mild disappointment. It looked less appetizing than she had hoped, but she forced a smile and took a bite. The food was extremely spicy, something that she wasn’t accustomed to, but she ate it without complaint, not wanting to cause any more trouble.

After their meal, Tanya and Carla chatted a bit longer before requesting the bill. Carla, still feeling flustered from earlier, quickly calculated the tip in her head and scribbled it down. She and Tanya gathered their things and left the café, stepping out into the bright afternoon sun.

They hadn't gone far when Carla heard hurried footsteps behind her. She turned to see the waiter, slightly out of breath, approaching them.

"Excuse me, ma'am," he called out politely. "I wanted to check if everything was alright with your meal and service today?"

Carla frowned, puzzled. "Yes, everything was fine. Why do you ask?"

The waiter hesitated, then gently pointed out, "I noticed you left a tip of only two percent. I just wanted to make sure there wasn't a mistake or if there was anything we could improve."

Carla's face turned crimson as she realized her error. "Oh, my goodness, I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed, flustered. "That was a mistake. I must have miscalculated. Please, let me fix that."

She quickly dug into her purse and handed the waiter a handful of cash, apologizing profusely. The waiter smiled kindly and reassured her that it was no problem, thanking her for her generosity.

As they walked away, Carla felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her. Tanya gave her a comforting rub on the back. "It's alright, Carla. We all make mistakes."

Carla nodded, but the incident lingered in her mind. It was then that Tanya, seeing her friend's distress, gently suggested, "Carla, have you ever thought about getting your eyes checked? It might make things a lot easier for you."

Carla waved off the suggestion. "Oh, I see well enough. It's just a bit of stress, I suppose."

Tanya, unconvinced, reached into her bag and pulled out her glasses. "Here, humor me. Try these on."

Reluctantly, Carla put on the glasses. The world snapped into perfect view. The edges of Tanya’s dress came into focus, the intricate patterns on the commemorative flags that hung from each street light post appeared delightfully festive, and even the expressions on the faces of people walking up and down the sidewalk—all came into vivid clarity. Carla gasped, tears welling in her eyes. It was as if a veil had been lifted, revealing a world she had forgotten existed.

Tanya smiled. "Like seeing for the first time, isn't it?"

Carla nodded, overwhelmed. "It's like I was in darkness, and now I'm in the light."

That moment marked the beginning of Carla's journey to clearer vision and embracing the light, just as Paul described to the Ephesians in the fifth chapter, eighth verse of that same named Bible book.

From that day forward, Carla embraced her glasses. She carried them everywhere, unashamed and grateful for the clarity they brought. With her newfound vision, she rediscovered her love for needlepoint, marveling at the delicate details she had missed. Driving at night became a pleasure again, as she enjoyed the twinkling stars and the crisp outlines of the trees against the sky.

Carla's transformation reminded her of a verse she had once read: "For you were once darkness, but you are now light in connection with the Lord. Go on walking as children of light." She felt like a child again, filled with wonder and joy at the simple act of seeing clearly.

She vowed never to return to her old ways, never to shun the light that her glasses brought. Carla's story became a gentle reminder to all who heard it that sometimes, accepting help and making changes can illuminate your life in ways you never imagined, but you can’t go back to your old ways. And so, Carla continued to walk as a child of light, her glasses a constant companion that allowed her to remain on course. It was remarkable, by simply applying these spectacles, she was able to see clearly, and with seeing she was able to make wise choices, decisions that would bring her greater harmony, and allow her to avoid the darkness of her old world and remain in the light!

Thank you for reading,
-Soli Jehova Gloria (1 Corinthians 10:31)