I have been working in a clinic where vitamin and chelation therapy is done for patients diagnosed with various diseases, heavy metal toxicity, and vitamin deficiencies. I have become very comfortable with several of the patients, some have even become my friends. One day a sweet, elderly patient was leaving. I am very fond of her. Unfortunately she is diagnosed with cancer of the bone and blood. Last week she became blind in one eye. As she was leaving, I waved to her and called out her name. I wanted to wish her a warm goodbye. She is such a beautiful soul. However she responded very sadly: “I never thought that I would get blind…” I have seen her cry about this before. I didn’t know what to do, so I immediately spoke from my heart on a subject I love to talk about: spirituality.
I said (paraphrased): “There are people in this world who can see but have blind hearts. They lack compassion, they lack depth of understanding from within. You, however, have a heart of compassion and understanding. It is better to be outwardly blind but inwardly perceptive, rather than inwardly blind and outwardly able to see.” I think she and her daughter pondered this for a minute, responded with “thank you” and continued on their way. I hope I was able to help her in the slightest way. What else could I have said? Before saying this I used to just repeat “I’m sorry” to her when she was telling me about her loss of vision. This time her daughter was smiling at me when they walked away. May God make it easy for them both.
Later it reminded me of the ayah in the Qur’an: “It is not the eyes that are blind, but it is the hearts.” (22:46)
