The Gift of Sight
Reflecting on the magical miracle of our eyesight.
As human beings, we often take our sight for granted. We lucky ones were born able to see things—read, observe, and admire the magnificent details of this colourful universe. While some of us can’t distinguish between reds, greens, and blues, colourblindness still awards you with the gift of sight.
It might have taken us a few to understand what we see. But as life unfolded, so did our maturity. Although I admittedly can’t speak for my one-month-old self, I wonder what it felt like to see colour for the first time.
I was observing a wasp caught against the clear glass window of my home office today. I am not a big fan of bugs, especially the buzzing kind. But, as I stared cautiously at its pointed sting, I noticed it didn’t seem that wasps could see or could see that well. This is apparently what it’s like to see the world through a wasp’s eyes (you can find anything on the internet!).
Against the glass and the backdrop of the blue-friendly skies, I wondered if the little wasp, with its tiny yet intimidating stinger, knew where it was. I waited patiently off to the corner as it moved up and down, right and left, sometimes seemingly in pointless circles to nowhere.
Manoeuvring along with its antenna, I assumed it was mapping its environment. Yet, it was also seemingly utterly unaware that just a few centimetres to its left was airborne freedom—please fly away from me. I assumed we both craved liberty; I wanted to return to my book and, honestly, my peace and safety.
I thank the Gods for my ability to see.
I also thanked the Gods, at that moment, for my ability to see. Especially the ability to see things clearly with vivid details and clarity. As a child, I was told eating lots of carrots would preserve my eyesight. That was also when my love affair with carrots began—why my yellow skin has an orange tint most days; and, I predict, also why I’ve managed to preserve my 20/20 vision (yes, I am bragging).
Feel free to pause for a moment to think about your ability to see. Even if you wear glasses or contact lenses, your ability to take in the world through those two eyeballs, seated in your skull, based on the refractions and reflections of light—is one of the greatest miracles of being human.
He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe is as good as dead; his eyes are closed. — Albert Einstein
Your eyesight is like the window that allows you to experience awe. What you see can inspire you to your very core. Of course, your other senses add vibrancy too, but can you imagine life if you could not see?
Sight, I was reminded, is therefore not something to take for granted. Over the past twenty-four months, I captured the moments (below) to allow my moments of awe linger longer in my memory—at least enough for me to capture it on my trusty iPhone.
