In the early sixties, there was a program called "Alfred Hitchcock Presents", when you could still watch a program, with out the scum that is present on TV today. I remember this one story, where this one individual was dissatisfied with his lot in life, because he did not poses any great wealth. He decided that if he had money, that would make a profound improvement in his situation. Giving it some thought, he then reached a conclusion that the easiest way to get rich quick, was to rob a bank. All this time, as he is thinking and planning, he is in such a position, that you only get to see one side of his face. So, he makes his plans, gets a disguise and goes to the local bank and holds it up. Now, he gets back to his apartment, and in very short time, he hears a knock on his door. To his surprise, it was the police, and he is baffled, how in the world were they able to find him so quickly. He asks the officer, how they were able to find him so quickly. Easy, said the officer, the description that was given by the teller. The robbery suspect had a distinguishable characteristic on his face, at this point the individual turns his face to the camera, and there is this half inch mole on his face.

At a very young age, this individual told himself that this half inch mole on his face, was not going to affect his life, and that he would just ignore it, and that is exactly what he did. The mole was with him all his life, and you would think that he would notice it and yet he was unable to see it.

I have an antique car, with a BB whole in the left side of the windshield, it got there by my neighbor's son, while trying to shoot a bird on a cloths line, that happened to be in front of my windshield. Apparently he missed the bird and got my windshield. The BB only penetrated the top layer of the glass, so the result was a star burst of about a half an inch in size. And, only when the sun shines on the spot, a glare is produced, and then it is noticeable by me, at all other times, it goes unnoticed.

In the seventh grade, I was surprised to learn, that we have two blind spots, in our eyes, one in each eye. If you recall from your past experience, that the reason why these blind spots are there, is because of the optic nerve, as it leaves the retina of the eye, at that point no image is formed, normally we do not notice them, because each eye compensates for the other eye. The test goes some like this, you make a large "dot " or a small " o " on a clean piece of paper and horizontally about length of 2 inches apart, you make an     " X " on the piece of paper, holding the paper in your hands and looking towards the center, so that the left eye is opposite the " o " and the right eye is opposite the " X " close your left eye, and focus at the " dot " or " o " with your right eye and with out loosing sight of the " X ", as you gradually move the paper closer to your face. You will be surprised to notice that the " X " disappears, when the paper is moved closer to the face.

Here in this passage, we have very young Samuel revealing what God had told him the night before, about Eli and his sons.

1 Samuel 3:13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.

1 Samuel 3:17 And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee. 18 And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.

The sins of the sons of Eli were quite obvious to everybody, but poor Eli, I guess that he was hoping that the sons would grow out of it, or he just chalked it up to youthful pranks. Eli did a lot of hoping, but took no action, such that God finally took action, which resulted in the death of all three in one day ! Here, judgement day is pronounced against Eli and his sons, and all Eli has to say "And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good." Eli had an opportunity to repent and to reprimand his sons, but he did not take that opportunity, and his and his sons fate was sealed. I guess, sometimes when a person is so closely associated with these spots, they begin to disappear, or at least they appear to disappear. Not being a parent, I will not fully understand, how Eli was able to over look his adult sons transgressions.

I have found that is a lot easier to discipline other children then your own, or should I say others have found it much easier disciplining other children then their own. I have seen this occur with relatives as well as friends, and when the child is older, he or she ends up being a total embracement to the parent, because of what he or she gets himself or herself into. And yet, parents are still willing to over look the problem.

This is not to say that we are spotless or without sin, we should get into the habit of examining our own lives, for spots that should not be there. And we know that it is a lot easier to notice other peoples' spots, then to see our own. Being reminded of the following passage:

Matthew 7:3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

And if it becomes necessary to comment on other people's spots, we have to remember " to speak the TRUTH in LOVE " Ephesians 4:15 .

Galatians 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Galatians 6:1 ¶ Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 Peter 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

Ephesians 5:27 That he (Christ) might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

By

Pete P. Repich

Back to home page => Vera and Science