I have always been fascinated by this aspect of Saul’s conversion, the moment when the blinded zealot received his sight through the hands of one of the people whom he had been sent to arrest. In his desire to maintain the holiness and righteousness of his people, Saul had already become blind to the people who would soon come to be called Christians.
His physical blindness mirrored the spiritual and emotional blindness that he had suffered at least since witnessing the martyrdom of Stephen. Saul had seen himself as one who could maintain the holiness that God desired for His Chosen people. As the scales fell from Saul’s eyes, so too did a shroud that had covered his heart and soul. Whenever I read these words, I am reminded of the times when I have been made aware of those places in my life to which I have turned a blind eye and a blind heart. Thankfully, God has placed many people into my life who help to point out these blind spots, as well as help me see and make changes as appropriate.
On the other side of that coin, each of us has been called to serve people by being that voice that helps them to find their blind spots and to learn to correct their spiritual vision. The challenge to us in these cases is to do so with gentleness and compassion rather than with the zeal that Saul carried prior to his conversion.