Have you ever wished you had eyes in the back of your head? Most parents have had that thought at one time or another, as have the majority of teachers I know. I suspect even the mischievous child, in retrospect, has wished for such a thing. But none of us are so equipped.
The two eyes that birds and mammals possess are arranged so that the creatures have binocular vision toward the front. In other words, the fields of view of the two eyes overlap to provide at least some area in which there is depth perception. For humans (and most predators), the best vision occurs when the focal centers of the two eyes also overlap.
Generally speaking, the more likely the animal is to be a prey species, the more widely spaced on the head the eyes are, giving a greater total range of view. But this sacrifices the forward pointing binocular vision so that what remains involves mostly peripheral vision. As a consequence, whenever a chicken wants to get a close view of something, it must turn its head (you’ve heard the term, cocking one’s head) so that one of its eyes is pointing at the object to be studied.
There is one bird, however, that goes to the extreme, and serves as the exception to the rule. In the eastern forests of the US and southern Canada a member of the shorebird family can be found probing the soil and under leaves searching for grubs, insects and earthworms. Of course, I’m speaking of the American Woodcock. This is a chunky, short-legged bird with a long beak and bulging eyes. Now if I were a tasty morsel that kept my nose to the ground, I would like to be able to see what is above and behind me. And the Lord has arranged the woodcock’s eyes in such a way that it has limited binocular vision behind its head. Thus, when it is sticking its bill into the ground, the bird is able to watch the sky above for danger. But it can’t see the tip of its bill very well at all.
I would suggest that our spiritual vision serves us best when we focus it at what lies in front of us. Let’s say I have a tremendous burden. Truth is, our family is currently facing a difficult situation, and many of us spend long hours in prayer. So we can either stand here, looking at the problem, praying that the Lord will move this massive weight; or we can turn to face God, knowing that He is greater. I heard a pastor couple being interviewed on a TV program about a week ago. They are very supportive of intense prayer programs, prayer warriors, and intercessory prayer. And the wife made a statement that really caught me attention.
She said, “We need to spend less time telling God how big our problems are, and more time telling our problems how big our God is.” Yes, we all have problems. Some involve grief, suffering and pain. But as this lady suggested, we need to take our eyes off the problem and put them onto God. To fail to do so would suggest that we believe the problem may be greater than God can handle.
But really, which is greater, the God who created and sustains the universe, or my problem? I can freely turn my back on the problem and place it firmly in God’s care. I like to think that my binocular vision is best used studying and admiring my wonderful God. I would encourage you, too, to turn whatever problem you’re facing over to the Savior. Look upon Jesus, and leave the problem-solving to Him.
Have a great day.
Dr. G
The two eyes that birds and mammals possess are arranged so that the creatures have binocular vision toward the front. In other words, the fields of view of the two eyes overlap to provide at least some area in which there is depth perception. For humans (and most predators), the best vision occurs when the focal centers of the two eyes also overlap.
Generally speaking, the more likely the animal is to be a prey species, the more widely spaced on the head the eyes are, giving a greater total range of view. But this sacrifices the forward pointing binocular vision so that what remains involves mostly peripheral vision. As a consequence, whenever a chicken wants to get a close view of something, it must turn its head (you’ve heard the term, cocking one’s head) so that one of its eyes is pointing at the object to be studied.
There is one bird, however, that goes to the extreme, and serves as the exception to the rule. In the eastern forests of the US and southern Canada a member of the shorebird family can be found probing the soil and under leaves searching for grubs, insects and earthworms. Of course, I’m speaking of the American Woodcock. This is a chunky, short-legged bird with a long beak and bulging eyes. Now if I were a tasty morsel that kept my nose to the ground, I would like to be able to see what is above and behind me. And the Lord has arranged the woodcock’s eyes in such a way that it has limited binocular vision behind its head. Thus, when it is sticking its bill into the ground, the bird is able to watch the sky above for danger. But it can’t see the tip of its bill very well at all.
I would suggest that our spiritual vision serves us best when we focus it at what lies in front of us. Let’s say I have a tremendous burden. Truth is, our family is currently facing a difficult situation, and many of us spend long hours in prayer. So we can either stand here, looking at the problem, praying that the Lord will move this massive weight; or we can turn to face God, knowing that He is greater. I heard a pastor couple being interviewed on a TV program about a week ago. They are very supportive of intense prayer programs, prayer warriors, and intercessory prayer. And the wife made a statement that really caught me attention.
She said, “We need to spend less time telling God how big our problems are, and more time telling our problems how big our God is.” Yes, we all have problems. Some involve grief, suffering and pain. But as this lady suggested, we need to take our eyes off the problem and put them onto God. To fail to do so would suggest that we believe the problem may be greater than God can handle.
But really, which is greater, the God who created and sustains the universe, or my problem? I can freely turn my back on the problem and place it firmly in God’s care. I like to think that my binocular vision is best used studying and admiring my wonderful God. I would encourage you, too, to turn whatever problem you’re facing over to the Savior. Look upon Jesus, and leave the problem-solving to Him.
Have a great day.
Dr. G
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