Citizens of Clarity

In the small town of Clarity lived a group of people who had perfect vision.  The town was simple, and beautiful.  The townsmen all saw alike.  To them the earth's beauties were abundantly obvious.  They enjoyed the blue sky, and the pink sunsets.  They saw the birds fly between the trees as they heard them sing their songs with joy.  They beheld the green trees, and saw the leaves blown by the rushing wind.  The running rivers, the still lakes, and the majestic mountains were all enjoyed by the townsmen.  During the darkness of night they gazed heavenward, wondering at the meaning of the story told there.  They beheld the signs in the heavens and in the earth and under the earth.  It was said among them their God and Father was the very God of nature.  They saw God moving in His majesty and power.

The children of the citizens of the growing town of Clarity were born blind.  Their parents retained their perfect vision, but were relegated to communicating the beauties of the earth to their children orally, and by touch, and smell.  These children were taught of the blue sky, and the pink sunsets.  They heard the birds fly between the trees and sing their songs with joy.  They learned from their parents about the green trees, and how the leaves were blown by the rushing wind.  They tried to envision the running rivers, the still lakes, and the majestic mountains that were all enjoyed by their parents.  The darkness of day was as real as the darkness of night to these blind children.  They could not gaze heavenward, whether day or night, and wonder at the meaning of the story told there.  They were taught of the signs in the heavens and in the earth and under the earth, and many believed all these things.  It was said among them their God and Father was the very God of nature.  They believed they saw God moving in His majesty and power.

The city of Clarity now grew rapidly and became more complex, and quite noisy.  When the citizens of the first generation had all died, the blind ran the growing city.  Their children, too, were blind.  The new blind children were taught by their blind parents about the blue sky, and the pink sunsets.  They heard the birds fly between the trees and sing their songs with joy.  They learned of green trees, and how the leaves were blown by the rushing wind.  With the eye of faith, these blind children tried to imagine the wonder of all these things.  They tried to envision the running rivers, the still lakes, and the majestic mountains that were told them by their blind parents.

Not having seen these things themselves, the blind parents who were teaching their blind children had varied views.  Some imagined the majestic mountains as they really were, and others not.  Some pictured the running rivers well, having visited the rivers, and though not having seen, had heard, and smelled, and touched them.  Others, who had neither climbed a mountain, nor visited a river, attempted a faithful telling of all these things to their children with less success than those who experienced them to some degree.  Some of the blind children believed, while others found their parents' stories and descriptions unbelievable.  There began to be contentions among them.  

Life continued for many generations in the great city of Clarity.  There were in the city all manner of citizens.  Some who believed, and some who did not.  Some who thought they understood well, and others who did not.  These blind citizens continued in a tradition that had been handed them.  They spoke of the sky, and sunsets.  They spoke of the trees, the leaves, the birds, the rivers, lakes, and mountains.  They contemplated the stars and wondered about the signs in the heavens.  Many forgot they were blind, and presumed to understand all these things as well as those who saw and knew them. Because they forgot they were blind, they were content.  

One day, a young man from another city moved to the great city of Clarity.  He listened to the people describe the sky, and sunsets.  They taught him of the trees, the leaves, the birds, the rivers, lakes, and mountains.  He studied the stars and wondered about the signs in the heavens.  He knew these things were true because he had been blessed with the gift of sight.  He decided to stay with the people.

The man who could see taught the other citizens that he had seen God moving in His majesty and power.  He said that their God and Father was the very God of nature.  He told the people about the signs in the heavens and in the earth and under the earth.  He, like those of the first generation, had gazed heavenward, wondering at the meaning of the story told there.  He visited and saw the running rivers, the still lakes, and the majestic mountains, even Mount Zion, and he had joy therein.  He beheld the green trees, and saw the leaves blown by the rushing wind.  He watched with delight the birds fly between the trees, as the sun was setting in the blue-turned-pink sky.  He desired all to receive the sight he was given.  

The man who could see grew older.  He taught the blind citizens of Clarity that their God and Father was able to cure their blindness.  If they would believe, and wash in living waters, they would begin to see.  A few believed and began to see.  

Many citizens of Clarity despised this man, however.  They believed he was lying.  Though he was able to see clearly, they eventually attacked him and cast him out.  The blind withdrew fellowship from a man who could see.