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They asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” — John 9:26 (NRSV)

One day, a blind man sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet and a simple sign that read: “I am blind, please help.” A creative publicist happened to walk by and paused long enough to take notice. He saw that only a few coins had been dropped into the man’s hat. Moved with compassion—and perhaps a bit of imagination—the publicist reached into his pocket, added a few more coins, and then, without asking permission, gently picked up the sign and rewrote it. He placed the new sign back in the blind man’s hands and quietly went on his way.

Later that afternoon, the publicist returned. This time, the hat was overflowing with coins and bills. The blind man, recognizing the sound of his footsteps, asked, “Were you the one who changed my sign? What did you write?”The publicist replied, “Nothing that wasn’t true. I simply said it a little differently.” And the new sign read: “Today is spring… and I cannot see it.”

Sometimes, all it takes is a new perspective. Sometimes, we don’t need new truth—we need renewed vision. Because if we always do what we’ve always done, we will continue to receive what we’ve always gotten.

Friends, One of the great hymns of our faith that I deeply enjoy is “Open My Eyes, That I May See” (UMH 454). I love this hymn because it reminds me—not of physical blindness—but of spiritual blindness. It reminds me how easy it is to miss what God is doing right in front of us. The prophet Isaiah speaks directly into this reality: “I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”— Isaiah 43:19 

Do you hear the question embedded in that promise? “Do you not perceive it?” God is always at work—making ways where there seem to be no ways, bringing life where things feel dry and barren. But the question is not whether God is moving… The question is: Can we see it? This gives me hope. Hope that God will open our eyes. Hope that God is still doing new things. Hope that even in wilderness seasons, rivers are forming beneath the surface. 

So, I ask you, church—pray. 

Pray for Lakeway United Methodist Church.

Pray for its new pastoral leadership: Reverend Blake Durham. 

Pray for wisdom in the decisions being made.

Pray for unity. Pray for God’s will—not ours—to be done. 

Because these are not just challenging times… These are sacred times—times when God is actively at work in our midst. The question remains: Do you see it? I look forward to seeing you Sunday.

Grace and peace to you all, Pastor Frank (alegria@lakewayumc.org)