Who or What Helps Us See

October 2026

This past summer, Vancouver hosted several of the FIFA World Cup games. There were many compelling stories around this amazing event. I heard a story on the news that deeply touched me about a mother and her blind son from Brazil.

In 2018, Brazilian television featured the story of Sílvia Grecco who narrates soccer games for her son Nickollas, who is both blind and autistic. She brings her son to all the games of his favourite team, Palmeiras, in the city of São Paulo in Brazil and describes the game for him, step by step, kick by kick. The mother says, “I go into details about the atmosphere and the characteristics of each player. Narrating the goals is, beyond a doubt, the most exciting part.” —Adapted from Aleteia news publication.

We have many euphemistic phrases concerning blindness that imply we don’t understand something or someone. And, conversely, people often refer to our ‘eyes being suddenly opened’. I can think of various people in my own life who have helped me see more clearly at times.

I think of an occasion when City in Focus hosted a breakfast for people to meet Rumana Monzur. In India, her husband, who did not want her to get higher education, poured acid on her face causing her to lose her eyesight. Nevertheless, she came with her children and parents to Canada, went to UBC and then on to Law School. She inspired all of us to not let the tragedies or limitations of our life define us.

Many years ago I met a guy named Jim Shaw who picked up bottles in the alley outside my home. I invited him for coffee and over time our friendship changed me. He lived in a run-down SRO and collected bottles all over the West Side to supplement his government monthly allowance. When he didn’t need extra money he would go to an East Van park and collect cans and give the cans to others who were doing the same thing. His view of life and his gratitude were inspiring. One Thanksgiving, when I was feeling depressed and discouraged, Jim suddenly called and said, “Remember Tom, be thankful today.” I will never forget that phone call that came at exactly the right moment. Jim and I met periodically over many years and I was with him when he passed away at St. John’s Hospice.

Several years ago at our monthly CIF breakfast we asked the Chaplain of the Federal Prisons in BC to come speak. We also asked him to invite a few former prisoners to join him. Each former prisoner was seated at a table with seven business leaders. Most of the business people had never met anyone who had been in prison. It was a profound learning experience for all of us. Each of us can probably think of a person or experience in our lives which has made us see or understand more fully.

When Jesus gave sight to a man who had been blind from birth some of the Pharisees did not believe this miracle and denounced Jesus saying he was not from God. The former blind man did not argue; He just said, “One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” John 9: 25-32

All of us have areas where we are blind and need the help of others to see. Sometimes we see things as they really are and can help others understand their blind spots. It is not a coincidence that the source of both understanding human affliction and what we can do to bring healing comes from the model Jesus showed us.

Blessings,

Tom