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June/July
2006
Stereo Faith
"I could see each snowflake in its
own three dimensional space, and there was space between each snowflake.
And it was like this beautiful three dimensional dance...Before my
therapy, if I looked at a snowfall, all the snowflakes fell in one
plane, slightly in front of me, and I was not really part of the
snowfall; I was looking into the snowfall.
Now I had the sense of being
within
the snowfall, in the midst of the snowfall, all the beautiful flakes
falling all around me...and I just was completely filled with a sense of
joy. I had never seen anything like that.
I completely forgot about lunch - I just stood there in the middle of
the campus, watching the snow."
-- Susan Barry, in an interview on NPR's Morning Edition
As I listened
to NPR this morning while driving to work, I could have been picked up
for D.W.L. (Driving While Listening). I was riveted by the
Morning Edition
story about Susan Barry, a woman who gained full
use of both eyes after 50 years of monocular vision. I was dumbfounded
by her description of the experience (above), of how remarkable it was
to see objects floating in three dimensions in front of her. I tried to
imagine what Barry's "snowflake experience" was like - but simply
couldn't get there. I have no concept of stereo vision because, as many
of you know, I have had no vision in my left eye for forty years.
Susan Barry's description of seeing in stereo
blew me away. I had no idea that I was missing something significant by
not seeing in three dimensions. I knew that I couldn't do 3D movies, or
other visual effects like that, but I had never heard anyone describe
what binocular vision is like every
day. I simply didn't know what I didn't know!!
This moment
both startled and inspired me. If I am missing a whole physical
dimension of sight, which is right in front of my nose, how much more am
I missing from God's
dimension, that Reign of God among us,
and yet part of the New Creation to come? How many opportunities do I
miss each day to see God at work in the world? How often do I raise my
heart in praise for the miracles of every day?
Lord,
Give me the stereo vision of faith.
Grant me the joy of knowing you are here,
every day, every minute,
Help me to see in each moment
ways to delight in, and to take part in,
your Reign,
at work before my eyes.
Chris Weber
Director
Catholic Education Ministries of Central Maryland
301-447-3707
Copyright © 2006 by the Catholic Education
Ministries Center of Central Maryland, Emmitsburg, MD 21727. All rights reserved.
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Find out more about Susan Barry's journey
to binocular vision, including the original Morning Edition
broadcast,
by visiting
npr.org.
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