Not often, in our evangelistic and pastoral endeavors, do we make a conscious effort to help the blind of the community to see the light of present truth. Yet such are sometimes even more susceptible than others to the appeal of truth. The suggestions here embodied, and information regarding where our message-filled literature in the Braille may be obtained (appearing on Page 41) should provide a distinct stimulus to add this neglected field to our endeavors.—The Editor
Doubtless no group of persons elicits a more sympathetic interest and arouses a greater desire to give help, than do those who are compelled to move about in a world of perpetual darkness. About twenty years ago, a friend and I called one evening at the home of a blind woman. The house was dark, but she was cheerily busy with her dusting cloth. My first impulse was to turn on the light; then all of a sudden I realized that to the blind there is no light. My heart went out in kindly sympathy to her to whom noonday is as darkest midnight, and I thought, "We can best praise God for our sight by helping the blind." Since that time a deeper interest in these unfortunate folk has gripped my life.
Some time ago I read the account of one without physical sight, but with spiritual vision, who would often ask those who possessed physical sight, but who were spiritually blind, to read passages from the Bible to her. Then in turn this blind woman who could not read would explain the truths of God's word to those who could read, but who did not understand.
Another person, a Seventh-day Adventist, really opened up the work in a large field by taking our literature, approaching folk humbly, and stating, "I cannot read. Will you please read this for me?" The blind man would listen intently, and occasionally exclaim, "Isn't that wonderful?" After getting the reader to agree with him, he would say, "You may take that paper along with you and study it for yourself."
I know a blind woman who became an Adventist before she lost her sight. She was taken into the home of relatives, who permitted their children to read to her and take her to church. As they came to the years of accountability, four children in that family of six joined our church in the face of determined opposition from their parents. One of these, a young man, entered the canvassing work. Another attended Union College and later taught school. All are faithful to the truth today.
Often we find that the Light of life" glows a bit more brightly for those who know not the blessings of physical light than He does for those who are not thus handicapped. We rejoice that the message seems so extremely precious to these dear people, and that their method of winning souls is so effective and harmonizes so fully with the method of the Master at the well. Even yet God sometimes chooses "the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty." It is gratifying indeed to know of the wonderful work which our publishing house for the blind, the Christian Record Benevolent Association, is doing for thousands of sightless people in the United States and England. As workers for God in these closing hours of human history, we must not neglect this fruitful field of labor.
