Experience Is Evidence

Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!

“Can you read that letter?” the optometrist asked.

Staring across the room, I tried hard to make out the black shape on a white background. It looked fuzzy. Sighing, I admitted the truth. “Only if I squint.”

The fact that I could barely see a letter the size of my palm felt a little disheartening. Having worn glasses for thirty years, I’m no stranger to having my eyes checked. But the longer I sat there, staring at the visible proof of just how much I rely on the lenses I wear each day, I couldn’t help but blurt out what I was thinking.

“It’s amazing how much I take being able to see for granted,” I told the optometrist as she typed up her notes.

She nodded wryly, fingers still tapping on keys. “We definitely do.”

When I put my contact lenses back in my eyes, I couldn’t help but marvel at the crispness of the colors and the beauty of the world around me. My temporary loss had reminded me of the great privilege I have in using all five senses. Without my glasses, I wouldn’t be able to drive safely. The horizon would be blurred, my depth perception would be off, and I wouldn’t be able to read any of the signs.

Our eyeballs are only about an inch in diameter, but they have an outsize impact on our daily lives. So, too, do our other senses. The smell of lilacs or woodsmoke, the sound of croaking frogs or our favorite song, the taste of coffee or chocolate, the feel of a cozy blanket or a piping hot bath—all of these small experiences add up to the sum of our lives. As Christians, we’re called to “taste and see that the LORD is good”—in other words, experience is what teaches us how good God is. Experience is evidence, and our experience of the world is a reminder of the many gifts God has given to us through his creation.

Kristin

Today’s Act of Gratitude

Choose one of your senses to focus on. Spend time considering all of the ways you use it each day.