On January 15, 2008, I had the pleasure of singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” for my friend’s sister, Karen. Karen was three days away from dying from breast cancer. More than anything, besides building my former Habitat for Humanity home at the time, I wanted to be a part of her ascending into heaven process. As I sang, accompanying myself on my autoharp, Karen kept saying over and over again, “Thank you, God! Thank you, Jesus! And, Gail, you don’t see with your physical eyes; however, you have soul eyes. You see with your soul eyes.” Karen’s words touched me and everyone who was in the small room with her. 

This week, I was reminded of Karen and her words while reading the book, Mary Magdalene Revealed by Megan Watterson. In the book she writes: “How we see anything, changes everything. … If how we see, truly see, is not with eyesight, but with a vision, a form of spiritual perception that allows us to know what’s real, what’s lasting, what’s true, if this comes from what’s within us; then no one has power over us.” 

When I participated in the Ms. Colorado Senior Pageant in 2013, we were asked to compose a thirty-five second philosophy of life. In part, mine says, “Vision is internal, not external, and is guided by my heart, not my eyes.” And, every week, I end my writings by saying some form of, “Change the way you see and change the way you live.” I’m not referring to your physical eyesight.  

Did you know that our physical sight and internal vision and imagination are located in the same part of our brain stem? 

Yep. Thus, in essence, we don’t need eyes to see! 

Case in point, how come people play piano better if they don’t look at the keys? 

How come people close their eyes when kissing? 

How come people close their eyes to go inward and/or meditate? 

Because connecting with ourselves, with our soul eyes, with the ever-present divine is easier for sighted people to do when not distracted by the outer world’s trappings. As a blind person, I have the ability to go inward at any time I want. All I have to do is stop, be still in the silence, and breathe. 

This morning, while making my breakfast at 5:00 AM, I watched an old episode of Highway from Heaven. As there aren’t any accidents in the world, the episode took place at a camp for blind children. At the end, a man sang a song which in essence said, I can’t see the stars or the moon. I can’t see the sky or the grass. I can’t see the mountains or the ocean. However, I see with my heart. I see all the colors of the world and its people-smiles, laughter, joy, and tears-with the various hearts’ colors. It’s truly like I have a rainbow in my heart.  

Therefore, my vision friends are not what’s out there. Vision is what connects us to ourselves, to the divine, and others. What you’re looking for is already inside you. To have rainbow soul eyes, you must look inside your heart. This is the place where you’ll change the way you see and change the way you live.