I will never forget working at a popular clothing store in college (okay, it was Abercrombie and Fitch, I admit it) and constantly hearing a song playing over and over. The song’s refrain or chorus went, “Blinded by the light…” The next part of the song could never be understood fully because the singer had horrible articulation. Since we had one CD playing constantly in the store, I heard that song about 50-60 times a month for two months. I never got the song lyric out of my head. To this day you might hear me singing it doing some mundane task.
Years later, I found out that the song, “Blinded by the Light” was originally preformed by The Boss man himself, Bruce Springsteen. “Blinded by the Light” was from Springsteen’s 1973 album Greetings from Asbury Park N.J. (Before I was born, I know, I’m young. I hear it everyday.) The song really did not catch on until Manfred Mann’s Earth Band released their version of the song on their album. Earth Band’s version reached #1 on both Billboard‘s chart 1977. It was Earth Band’s rendition that I heard working at A&F.
Anyway, part of the song goes like this:
He was just blinded by the light
Cut loose like a deuce another runner in the night
Blinded by the light
Mama always told me not to look into the sights of the sun
Oh but mama that’s where the fun is
What the heck does that mean? Springsteen talked about this song on an episode of VH1 Storytellers. The references in the song are personal, to include people he knew or had met at the beach, or had grown up around, or were personal references to himself. What ever the lyric means, it’s a clear reference to “seeing the light.” It might be a good thing or a bad thing.
In the lectionary lesson for this Sunday, Saul (who becomes Paul) is blinded by the light. After leading the charge to kill and persecute people of the Way (Christians) he is “blinded by the light” on the road to Damascus. Saul receives a vision of Christ asking why he is persecuting Jesus followers. Saul continues to Damascus blind from the experience.
Meanwhile, in Damascus there is a man named Ananias who was told by Christ to go and look for a man named Saul and to welcome him. Ananias was shocked. He had heard about Saul’s exploits and feared him. Why would God want a man like that? Jesus replies in Acts 9:
Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel…
Oh snap! Ananias, you got served son! Just kidding. Christ, before he gives an explanation, just says, “Go!” Jesus told Ananias what so many people have issues with: God chooses to use who God chooses to use. The providence a God is a huge hang up with people.
Why would God use Saul? People must have feared him. God eventually uses Saul, who is later named Paul, as the most prolific New Testament writer and missionary. A Jew, but able to reach out to Gentiles in the name of God. After Paul is welcomed by Ananias, and receives the Holy Spirit, something like scales fall from Paul’s eyes. Immediately, the scriptures read, Paul was baptized.
The conversion of Saul to Paul is a popular story. Many Christians uses it as a evangelistic tool, but many miss the fact that Paul’s story is our story. We can be blinded by anger, sin, fear, racism, depression, or any number of things.
What do you need to be released of? What do you need to open your eyes to?
May you be “blinded by the light” and see the world in a new light just as Paul did.
Bonus: If you are in church on Sunday, you will hear about how was once blinded (literally) during a mission trip. It was not a pleasant experience, but I learned a lot about about myself and about trusting others.
Easter 3C
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