BARTIMAEUS RETRACES HIS JOURNEY

Many once knew me as Blind Bartimaeus; my story is told in the most famous book. But I’ll tell you what happened after my sight was restored. How, from my perspective, it has been for me.

When Jesus restored my sight, I moved immediately from physical darkness to vibrant clarity, looking first at Jesus' face. There was no slow adjustment period or blurry recovery. After years of relying on sound, touch, and smell on what is known as my corner (Barney's corner) in Jericho, colours, shapes, and movements flooded my mind all at once.

I was blind, but now I see; this must be a miracle. I can now see everything that was previously beyond my sight. I was eager to retrace my steps, now fully sighted, and keen on making the same journey, but this time with the ability to see things I wasn’t able to see before.

Will you come with me as I take this journey once again with sight, walking in the light and no longer in darkness? Let us begin a journey so that I may see and share what God has done for me.

WOW! I had never known these colours of green and brown. Colours were not as others had described them. Now I see shape and colour for myself; how remarkable is nature and creation: that I am now able to see through my own lenses. With restored sight, I am experiencing again a journey I had previously travelled blindly. I can now observe the things I once cautiously touched and smelled as I passed them by without my sight.

After Jesus restored my sight, I decided to leave my former life as a beggar behind permanently. My eyes had never encountered light, yet they were suddenly filled with the Judean sun. I chose to join the Gospel of Mark caravan "on the way." What future experiences and adventures would we encounter during this journey?

I had spent too many years living in darkness. In my mind, I had formed an understanding of the world based on what my blind eyes and mind imagined. However, as I continued this journey of discovery through sight, with Mark beside me, certain things surprised me — both what they were and what they could become.

Through His grace, those final days of Jesus’ life have transformed my understanding of everything. I am enjoying this journey more and valuing life beyond the identity of the blind beggar I once was. I can now see and understand the journey Jesus endured on the road to Calvary.'

By Sarah Joy Holden