Until we learn to think with the understanding which is the reward of a knowledge of divine Science, we are wont to regard vision as purely a matter of seeing with the material eyes, as something dependent on mortal sight. We pity the blind as those deprived of the beauties of earth and sky, when we should remember, as Mrs. Eddy points out on page 586 of Science and Health, that eyes mean "spiritual discernment,—not material but mental;" that these seemingly afflicted ones are not cut off from the discernment of heavenly things, the glories of the kingdom of our heavenly Father which the apostle tells us "eye hath not seen."
We are unmindful, too, of the multitudes who, today as in the time of the great Teacher, go through the world unheeding of that which alone is true and beautiful and enduring, who are lacking in that spiritual sense which enables one to discern between the true and the false, to see beyond the ephemeral pleasures of mortal sense the enduring joys born of right thinking and right living. These are they of whom the Master asked, "Having eyes, see ye not?" They are those who, despite the multitudinous proofs of the Father's omnipotence and loving-kindness, still cling to the fallacies of mortal sense, lose the spirit in the letter.
There is less excuse for this mental blindness today than ever before. When the word of the Lord came to the child Samuel, we read that "there was no open vision," there was only the voice coming to him out of the darkness, yet clear and unmistakable in its purport. In the darkness that filled the temple mortal vision was helpless, but the child's spiritual sense perceived the presence of the Almighty God and was obedient to the call. All down the centuries there were those to whom the word came, those whose ears were attuned to catch the heavenly message and make it plain for the people. Even in the days of the prophet Habakkuk the vision of the Lord was not vouchsafed, and he was shown that he must walk by faith, not by sight, and encourage the people to wait patiently, "for the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry."
