Polka Dot Umbrella

Yesterday I was speaking with a man in his sixties.  I have gotten to know him well over the years, as he is losing is sight to glaucoma.  I’ve been with him through surgery, encouraged him, helped him get his meds, etc.  As we talked yesterday, he was speaking about using an umbrella I offered him.  It was red and white.  He said: “I’m secure enough in myself now to not care what this looks like.  I’d use a polka dot umbrella as long as it would keep me dry.”

He then went on to speak of his dealing with the loss of sight, and said: “When my eyes got bad, my brain opened up, and I got smarter.  When you think you’re thinking clear, you’re not.  But it (my thinking) was out of pocket, off base, all of that.”  As his sight declines, his perspective just gets more and more clear.  He went through the ninth grade but has gained wisdom and an ability to teach. -Br. Bob