Are You Colorblind? Let It Bring Out Your Best
Years ago, I suspected that one of my friends might have a vision difficulty, so I asked him: “Are you colorblind?” He surprised me by asking if I referred to ethnic identification. We laughed, and he told me he was partially color blind. But he had a point to which I will return later.
So, optically-speaking, what does it mean to be colorblind? Normally, colorblindness is an inherited genetic vision problem; but aging, disease, sickness, or an injury can also trigger it. Sometimes, colorblindness can be a side effect of medicine.
A colorblind person has difficulty seeing primary colors, or a mix of these colors from which every other conceivable color comes. Three theories potentially define primary colors. One basic concept identifies red, blue, and green; and another theory classifies red, blue, and yellow as primary. A third theory includes red, blue, green, and yellow.
A popular belief is that colorblind people cannot see any color at all, but that isn’t always correct. Therefore, the term is actually misleading, but we’ll use it for ease of understanding in this Reflection. And let me add here: very seldom will people even with excellent vision see colors exactly the same as others do.
Colorblindness may make people ineligible for some vocations, such as flying planes. But during World War II, the Army Air Corp (predecessor to the United States Air Force) hired color blind people to be “spotters” in planes because they would not be fooled by the camouflaging that was used to hide trucks, cannons, supplies, and soldiers.
What I found to be even more interesting is that some “colorblind” people are not really colorblind. Their eyes function properly and the retinas receive all available colors; but the individuals do not recognize color. The problem here is perception, not vision.
My eyes have been tested for color reception, and they came out very good. Also, with my eye-glasses, I have near 20-10 (near perfect) vision. But I am somewhat “colorblind” regarding ethnicity. Many of my friends are not Caucasian or White, yet we call each other brother or sister. Ethnicity is not an issue and the love of Christ flows between us. As I interact with people from around the world, I see people made in the image of God. Even if the person isn’t a Christian, I still see someone whom Jesus loves and for whom Jesus died.
But there is another type of “colorblindness.” As our spotters in the Army Air Corp in World War II were not fooled by enemy camouflage, God’s “colorblind” people are not fooled by Satan’s deception in education, politics, and in the church.
These folk are blessed by the Lord, but they often come under attack. The world rejects or hates them and misguided Christians misunderstand them. But these colorblind people, like the Apostle Paul and Billy Graham, are the ones who keep the faith in Almighty God alive, and spread it around the world.
If you have that kind of vision, don’t back down. People need to hear you.