"I shut my eyes in order to see" (Paul Gaughlin)

Paul Gaughlin was a man who who woke up one day and decided to paint. To express his paintings he moved to Librería Matisse located in the beautiful countryside of Santiago Chile. Mr. Gaughlin paintings are famous in Chile. When asked one day, how does he paint such beautiful contrasts he stated:

"I shut my eyes in order to see". When I heard this statement by Mr. Gaughlin, I found it as a beautiful methaphor of Faith. You see, Faith doesn't see through the natural eyes of man (problems, pressure, life circumstances, etc). Faith sees the through the heart.

Many times we are not successful on the roads we travel, because we are quick to observe what we perceive. Based on man's theory, there are major distinctions between observation and perception. Observation being stronger and perception being weaker.

The dictionary defines observation as: "Observation is either an activity of a living being (such as a human), consisting of receiving knowledge of the outside world through the senses."

As Christians most of us know the human senses (carnal mindness) are controlled by what we see, feel, touch and taste. Our thoughts are controlled by the physical things and emotional things of what we perceive. When facing the challenges of life, we rely on our physical "eyes" to determine the outcome of our situations.

However as the painter states, "it is when I shut my eyes, then can I see (my paraphrase)." We must begin to realize that faith is not rationale nor is it based upon the physical things we see. We must understand that faith does not have eyes. Faith is spiritual mindness (calling things which are not as though they are).

Let me put it this way, you know you have a heart right? Although, you may feel it beating, you can't see it. Well, faith operates in the same fashion. You believe there is a God, even though you can't see Him. We know He dwells in us, because of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit operates as a beat testifying of His presence in our lives. Just as our hearts beat to let us know it is alive and inside of us.

Let us remember that "Faith" is not the proof of something observed or perceived by the senses. Faith sees where there is no light.

"I shut my eyes in order to see" (Paul Gaughlin).