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Eyes In the Darkness

Spiritual Blindness Guidance Friendship

Source: Posted to Facebook. Adapted from Sandy Greenberg’s memoir: “Hello Darkness, My Old Friend: How Daring Dreams and Unyielding Friendship Turned One Man’s Blindness into an Extraordinary Vision for Life."

Link to Source: Click here to view source

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2023-07-27

Scripture: Isaiah 48:17 ; Proverbs 3:6

Author: "Weird Things In The Word" Facebook Collective
4

ILLUSTRATION

Everybody knows the iconic Simon & Garfunkel song, but do you know the amazing story behind the first line of The Sounds of Silence?

It began 62 years ago, when Arthur “Art” Garfunkel, a Jewish kid from Queens, enrolled in Columbia University. During freshman orientation, Art met a student from Buffalo named Sandy Greenberg, and they immediately bonded over their shared passion for literature and music. Art and Sandy became roommates and best friends. With the idealism of youth, they promised to be there for each other no matter what.

Soon after starting college, Sandy was struck by tragedy. His vision became blurry and although doctors diagnosed it as temporary conjunctivitis, the problem grew worse. Finally after seeing a specialist, Sandy received the devastating news that severe glaucoma was destroying his optic nerves. The young man with such a bright future would soon be completely blind.

Sandy was devastated and fell into a deep depression. He gave up his dream of becoming a lawyer and moved back to Buffalo, where he worried about being a burden to his financially-struggling family. Consumed with shame and fear, Sandy cut off contact with his old friends, refusing to answer letters or return phone calls.

Then suddenly, to Sandy’s shock, his buddy Art showed up at the front door. He was not going to allow his best friend to give up on life, so he bought a ticket and flew up to Buffalo unannounced. Art convinced Sandy to give college another go, and promised that he would be right by his side to make sure he didn’t fall - literally or figuratively.

Art kept his promise, faithfully escorting Sandy around campus and effectively serving as his eyes. It was important to Art that even though Sandy had been plunged into a world of darkness, he should never feel alone. Art actually started calling himself “Darkness” to demonstrate his empathy with his friend. He’d say things like, “Darkness is going to read to you now.” Art organized his life around helping Sandy.

One day, Art was guiding Sandy through crowded Grand Central Station when he suddenly said he had to go and left his friend alone and petrified. Sandy stumbled, bumped into people, and fell, cutting a gash in his shin. After a couple of hellish hours, Sandy finally got on the right subway train. After exiting the  station at 116th street, Sandy bumped into someone who quickly apologized - and Sandy immediately recognized Art’s voice! Turned out his trusty friend had followed him the whole way home, making sure he was safe and giving him the priceless gift of independence. Sandy later said, “That moment was the spark that caused me to live a completely different life, without fear, without doubt. For that I am tremendously grateful to my friend.”

Sandy graduated from Columbia and then earned graduate degrees at Harvard and Oxford. He married his high school sweetheart and became an extremely successful entrepreneur and philanthropist.

While at Oxford, Sandy got a call from Art. This time Art was the one who needed help. He’d formed a folk rock duo with his high school pal Paul Simon, and they desperately needed $400 to record their first album. Sandy and his wife Sue had literally $404 in their bank account, but without hesitation Sandy gave his old friend what he needed.

Art and Paul's first album was not a success, but one of the songs, The Sounds of Silence, became a #1 hit a year later. The opening line echoed the way Sandy always greeted Art. Simon & Garfunkel went on to become one of the most beloved musical acts in history.

The two Columbia graduates, each of whom has added so much to the world in his own way, are still best friends. Art Garfunkel said that when he became friends with Sandy, “my real life emerged. I became a better guy in my own eyes, and began to see who I was - somebody who gives to a friend.” Sandy describes himself as “the luckiest man in the world.”

APPLICATION

Art and Paul's first album was not a success, but one of the songs, The Sounds of Silence, became a #1 hit a year later. The opening line echoed the way Sandy always greeted Art. Simon & Garfunkel went on to become one of the most beloved musical acts in history.

The two Columbia graduates, each of whom has added so much to the world in his own way, are still best friends. Art Garfunkel said that when he became friends with Sandy, “my real life emerged. I became a better guy in my own eyes, and began to see who I was - somebody who gives to a friend.” Sandy describes himself as “the luckiest man in the world.”

In a world of spiritual blindness, Jesus is our trusted friend and guide.

"Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: 'I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go'" (Isaiah 48:17, ESV).

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV).

 

Getting Ahead of God

Guidance Patience Submission

Contributed By: James Augustine | Date Posted: 2020-05-10

Scripture: Psalms 139:24 ; Psalms 5:8

Author: James Augustine
6

ILLUSTRATION

My friend Mike retold this story in a training session many years ago. It seems he was out in the woods of his old homestead with his 8-year-old son. They were trekking through the woods that Mike had known like the back of his hand since he was the age of 8. He wanted to share these woods with his son, but his son kept on running on ahead of him. He would call out to him and say, "Son, I want you to go that way," pointing to the left. His son stopped and looked at the fork in the path and said, "What way dad?" 

Mike finally stood still and wanted to see how the situation would play out. He again pointed to the left and said, "That way!" 

"Which way, dad?"

"Son. I want you to stop and wait for me."

Mike's son then turned around and waited for his father to come up next to him, take his hand, and then proceed to lead him in the right direction.

APPLICATION

Far too often, we as Christians tend to rush ahead of God. We want to get to the blessings, and we have no idea how to get there. And we rush ahead, with God all the while pointing in a direction and saying gently to us, "Go that way!" 

We respond with frustration because we are not following, but trying to force God's hand and have Him go the way we want to. But God's desire is for us to wait, to be patient, and allow Him to lead us where He wants us to go.

the psalmist in 139 asks God to "search me, know me, and lead me." God knows us and has searched us. But if we want to go where He wants us, we have to allow Him to lead us.

Good Fear

Fear Wisdom Guidance

Source: “Fear of spiders? The London zoo wants to help” By: Michael d'Estries, November 17, 2015

Link to Source: Click here to view source

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2016-02-01

Scripture: Proverbs 1:7

Author: Illustration Exchange
10

ILLUSTRATION

MOHTER NATURE NETWORK reports:

When it comes to spiders, people generally fall into one of two categories: indifferent, or "OMG GET IT AWAY FROM ME" afraid … But what if you could be convinced to respect and co-exist with spiders instead of feeling threatened by their presence?

That's the idea behind the Zoological Society of London's Friendly Spider Programme, designed to help people cope with their fears. The four-hour session is hosted by the London Zoo’s head of invertebrate conservation, Dave Clarke, and features a discussion on phobias, a detailed history and education on spiders, and even a group hypnotherapy session.

Led by hypnotherapist John Clifford, the hypnosis is designed to "remove any remaining negative subconscious feelings about the animals and support the newly-acquired positive feelings."

After all of the above is concluded, the participants are invited to take the optional step of visiting the Zoo's BUGS! building. In a calm and supportive environment, they can practice catching common household spiders and/or cuddle with a big furry Mexican red-kneed spider.

APPLICATION

Confronted by a big furry Mexican red-kneed spider, most of us are heading straight for the door! Any time we need to be hypnotized in order to overcome a fear, there just might be a good reason to be afraid! Fear is not necessarily a bad thing. Take the Bible for example. It speaks of a holy God who will judge each of us according to His righteous standards. Such a thought really should fill each of us with fear and trepidation.

While conventional wisdom rejects the idea of fearing God, seeing it as unnecessary and unproductive, the Bible actually commends it--not as an end in itself, but as a starting point. The Bible says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7). 

Don't be the fool who runs from their fears, or erases them with hypnotherapy. Listen to your fears and be guided by them into the ways of wisdom.

Americans Can't Live Without Their Phones

Word of God Dependence on God Guidance

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2015-04-30

Scripture: Various

Author: Pew Research Organization / Illustration Exchange
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Guidance Quotes

Guidance Counseling Wisdom

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2015-04-17

Scripture: Various

Author: Various
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Google Maps Is My Shepherd

Guidance Faith God's Care

Contributed By: Mitchell Dillon | Date Posted: 2015-03-20

Scripture: Psalms 23:1 ; John 10:14

Author: Mitchell Dillon
15

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Probe Module Philae Lands On Speeding Comet

Guidance Trust (In God) Bible

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2014-11-14

Scripture: Psalms 119:105 ; 2 Peter 1:19

Author: Illustration Exchange
1

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This Book ...

Word of God Guidance God's Promises

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2014-04-12

Scripture: Proverbs 6:23

Author: Unknown
11

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Do You Know Where You Are Going?

Guidance Holy Spirit (Walking In) Truth

Contributed By: Gordon | Date Posted: 2014-03-26

Scripture: John 16:13

Author: Gordon/Illustration Exchange
1

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Jonah Thought He Was Going Nowhere

Circumstances Guidance Repentance

Contributed By: Brett Sartain | Date Posted: 2013-07-06

Scripture: John 14:6

Author: Jon Courson
9

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