From Darkness Into Light

Bringing Your Purpose Into Light

Thinking her eye glasses needed changing, my friend, Carol Allen, went to her eye doctor for a new prescription. After the exam, her doctor presented her with news that would change her life forever. “You have lost most of your vision, and you will no longer be able to drive. Not only that, within five years, you will be blind,” the doctor predicted.

The inherited eye disease, Retinitis Pigmentosa, (RP) that Carol had been diagnosed with as a five-year-old child, had now escalated. RP causes the retina to degenerate. People with RP experience a gradual decline in their vision because the cells known as the rods and cones die. The first symptom is night blindness followed by a decline of the peripheral vision until tunnel vision sets in. In that stage, the person only sees a small amount of their central vision.

Shocked, Carol walked out of the doctor’s office and entered a doorway that led her into clinical depression. Only thirty-eight-years-old at the time, this strong independent wife and mother of two young boys, began to spiral downward into a deep dark pit. Not wanting to ask anyone to drive her to places she needed to go, she began living in seclusion behind the walls of her own home.

One day, about seven years into her new life of darkness, both physically and emotionally, Carol decided to sit outside in the sun. As she sat with the sun beaming down on her, she began to pray. Carol tells her story in her own words of what happened next and in the years to come as a result of that prayer.

Carol’s Story:

Instead of praying, perhaps a better word for what I was doing was whining to God. I explained how unfair this eye disease was, how I felt trapped, how I felt like a prisoner in my own home, and how I couldn’t do anything for Him in my handicapped condition. Actually, I was having a pity party.

Suddenly, I heard a voice, not audible, but a voice within me saying, “Carol, turn your eyes on Me; your life will be better.”

I knew what I was hearing wasn’t my own thoughts. I believed it was the voice of God, but it frightened me because I didn’t know God would speak to me. So, I thought I was losing my mind and my eyesight. But, I asked, “Is that really You, God? If it is, tell me how to turn my eyes on You; I don’t know how.”

Once more the voice within me spoke, “Go get your Bible.” Not having clear directions of where to turn, I just opened it to the book of Psalms and began reading. That day, I stepped out of that dark place into the light of God’s Word.

Soon, God began opening doors for me to teach at my church and speak at women’s retreats. Quite surprising to me, He gave me the opportunity to fulfill what I had envisioned as my main purpose in life – a certified counselor. Having had to drop out of college in pursuit of my Master’s degree for certification, I thought my life as a counselor was over. Instead, I was certified through Stephen Ministries, a Christian lay program, and began counseling people on a one-on-one basis in my living room.

Though I did not go totally blind in five years, as the Dr. had predicted, I continued to lose my eyesight over the years. However, with the help of a reading machine given to me by the Commission for the Blind, I am able to read my Bible and study the material I need for teaching and counseling.

The scripture that best describes what happened to me out in the sunshine that day as I was whining to God is: “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV.

Reflection

Have you ever been faced with obstacles you felt would end what you believed to be your purpose in life? If so, explain.
Tell how Carol’s story has inspired you to pursue your purpose?
Explain in your own words what the scripture, Hebrews 12:1-2, means to you.