A GUIDE FOR A BLIND MAN

Introduction

Speaking of the Oscars (see last week’s blog) there is something note worthy of a good performance. Awards are not only given to the lead actors but also to those who play supporting roles. This is the mind-set I had when I was writing ‘A Guide For A Blind Man.’

We often hear about Samson. Movies are made after him, in Bible Studies and Sermons he is often portrayed as the flawed superhero of his time. But nothing is mentioned of the lad who had to guide him to the pillars for his final stand.

There is an opportunity here that so many people seem to miss. One of the key things I have found since I started this journey of writing bible-based stories, is that the Bible would go out of it’s way, as so to speak, to mention characters who are so indiscriminate to the story, their names are not even mentioned. He or she could be any person on this earth, with their own story to tell. And since this person has no name, who is to say this person wasn’t someone like you or me.

I say, when a scripture comes around that takes the time to mention a person in one sentence or one breath even, its an opportunity to study and research that person’s name if there is one, their country, what was going on at that time and the way of life of the people in that era. That way you can have the open creativity to explore the possibilities of what might have been. Well, that’s how I see it anyway.

The Story

In this story you had a young man, possibly in his late teens who is struggling with the issue of having a role model. Who do you look up too in times of destress? Who is your ‘defender of the universe’?

This story mentions two possible role models.

1. This young lad’s father, who despite being an honest soul and one that has a sense of integrity, there seems to be something lacking. He’s laughed at by his peers for his high standards and business practices. Physically, it appears he’s not a ‘catch’ so to speak. So, this young man has a struggle accepting to be like his father.

2. On the other side of the spectrum there is Samson. On the plus side Samson has won many battles for the nation, even though they are under enemy rule. He’s a judge and most possibly the strongest person on earth. But at this stage of the story, he is introduced not as the conquering hero but as a blind, shivering prisoner.

I guess for most people who may be faced with such choices, the path to follow would be a tough choice to make. To take a line from the young man’s thinking, “here is Samson, a prisoner of our enemies and here is my father, a prisoner of his own thinking.”

In a discussion with Samson while leading him up to the main pillars of the coliseum, Samson’s thoughts and reflections are brought to the surface as he compares his life and actions with those of this young lad’s father.

Most times in life, nothing is ever at it originally seems. There was good and bad in both men and if you’re willing to look, it’s not about trying to emulate one person over the other, but rather see the good parts in both and take them and work with it.

No father is totally bad, if you look hard enough, you’ll see some good qualities there. As well as no person is totally good either. I strongly believe that if you stop reading your Bible, you will be denying yourself of a fundamental truth, that at the end of the day, we are all just human.

And if you do fall into that category, wouldn’t it be nice to know that there is someone bigger, who has your best interests at heart and wants you to know that if you do hit a brick wall from time to time (as we do) he’s there to help us get over it.

Final Thoughts

When Samson was in prison, he was barely fed. But the scriptures don’t focus on his strength returning because of what food he ate; it drew attention to the fact that his hair started to grow back. So, it’s possible the people in the audience were laughing because what they saw was a tried, weak, muscle-less man, who was so thin from starvation, pushing against overwhelming odds. And we know how that story ended.

Who is to say that if you found yourself in a similar circumstance, well, maybe not physically pushing against a pillar, but facing a situation that made you believe your very life was at stake, that the Father who came to Samson’s request, in that last hour won’t come to yours? That’s why I write these stories.