Our Dad is Blind

1 Jn.1:8 “Yet I am writing you a new command, its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing, and the true light is already shining.”

Alaska’s Resurrection Bay was pristine that morning.  The sun was already beating down, suntan lotion was needed for sure. The father and his two sons walked down the floating dock which was bobbing about. The chatter was plentiful in anticipating their first salmon fishing adventure.

We boarded the small aluminum boat. The fishing gear was loaded and now under power, the boat keel parted the flat water heading towards a secret bountiful fishing location forty-five minutes away.

Fifteen minutes into the wide-open bay, an Orca whale emerged fifty yards in front of us and blew its spout. This sea monster’s spray and smell impacted us right away. I pulled the throttle back to almost idle. The grown sons who were in the bow of the boat, immediately jumped out of their seats screaming and dancing like kindergarteners. They already had their brand-new video cameras rolling to record this amazing photographic opportunity. I certainly did not expect them to hang over the side to get close up water footage. This whale was multiple times larger than my runabout boat and it surfaced several times right in front of us. All I could think of was that monster coming underneath our boat and surfacing which would likely capsize us. This event was both the boater’s nightmare and greatest thrill.

The rear center console was my place in the boat. I was wearing my standard rain gear for fishing. As the boat skipper I was also thrilled to see this rare event take place in such close proximity to my boat. In the thrill I was probably more concerned about these novice young men falling overboard in their frenzied filming. I was shouting loudly at them to sit down, but it yielded no response. In fact, the pandemonium was escalating, and the boat was rocking from the Orca’s waves made as it repeatedly surfaced.

All the while what seemed like hours passing by the father seated directly on my right side just to the rear of me, was jerking violently on the bottom portion of my rain jacket and shouting “What is it!” The sons were out of control in joy and dancing on the boats deck causing the boat to seriously rock back and forth on the water. The tension onboard was now at critical mass.

I am normally a very cool and calm skipper in adverse situations but today was very different. I was so concerned these guest passengers were going to go for an unwanted swim. In fridged Alaska waters, a person does not last long before succumbing to the shock as the freezing water paralyzes you, even when you are wearing a life jacket.

In the loud uncontrolled shouting and dancing on the deck dad is shouting “What is it?,” the words formed on the tip of my tongue, “What are you blind or something?” I was nearly out of control myself in trying to be a responsible skipper and fishing guide.
All of a sudden, in unison, both sons roared in laughter, seated themselves and said, “Oh, Richard, we forgot to tell you, Dad is blind!” My first thought was I am so glad I did not utter what I was about to say. I then looked at Dad who was still staring at me, with no sunglasses on, and who still had a fist-full of my rain jacket. I felt immediate compassion for him. In my mind, I replayed this man and his sons walking down the moving dock at the harbor without any indication that Dad could not see. They put on their Life Jackets and engaged in conversation without any evidence of vision impairment.

At that moment in the rocking boat, Dad told me that he had been blind from his youth and that he was very good at navigating life being blind. I was told by a friend that this man was a very successful businessman and had amassed fortunes in the transportation industry. All not being able to see.

In the shock of Dads handicap discover, I realized that I needed to communicate and explain the environment and fishing activity absolutely differently so he would be able to fully enjoy this memorable trip with his sons visiting Alaska’s great outdoors.

This fishing trip was moving ahead. We then encountered porpoises glancing off the side of the boat and splashing Dad with their waves. Again, he shouted, “What is it?” and I explained the scenario as I never had before.

At the end of this day on the water, my guests poured out compliments and gratitude for a very productive fishing day of catch and sight-seeing. They told me they would be coming again and I was their boat captain choice. I was flattered and felt a deep sense of accomplishment, but mostly, I was profoundly grateful for the lessons the Lord taught me that day.

There are several lessons learned from that event and are applicable to living in the light or truth.

Blind people would see if they could.
Learn to communicate in ways that serves others well.
Remember, we were all born in sin and we are blind to truth or reality at its base.
The Holy Spirit convicts people of sin, righteousness, and judgment. We cannot! (Jn.16:7-13)
If you are living in the light, consider how you can come alongside someone who cannot see.
Be committed to love and faithfully walk with them to their destination.
This journey is not about you, it’s about them, though you may learn and benefit from it.
Offer your assistance. You cannot force them to take it.
Be understanding and gracious; it will take time for them to listen and build trust in you.
Communicate frequently all along the way. Give them encouragement and hope, a bright expectation for tomorrow.
Comfort them. Fear is always a factor walking in the dark.
Your role as a guide is not to scold, ridicule, judge, be sarcastic or shame them for not seeing.
You can guide them to the light switch but you cannot turn it on for them.
The greatest gifts you may give is to love, accept, and forgive.
Remember, truth is always accompanied with humility.

We all are blind to some extent. Treat others as you want to be treated. Live in the light or the truth so that others can see.


You are loved!