Last night during choir practice, we discussed how fast (and furious) Good Friday is approaching. It felt like Christmas was just a few weeks ago. Then came Chinese New Year, and next week, we will start preparing for Easter Sunday. It seems like we are running from one event to another, trying to catch our breath and make sense of the times and seasons that come and go each year.

These are not the only things that govern our lives as we go about living. We have our work, school, homes, and families to manage. Added to this are the personal journeys we are going through. I find myself needing constant reminders to meet people, attend meetings, check my children’s school schedules through emails, and many other platforms. A physical diary, a digital calendar, and a table calendar stand as stark reminders of the many to-do lists of things.

Given that we live in a fast-paced world with many things vying for our attention, how can we make sense of our journey as believers and live meaningful lives? In the sea of things happening around us, we cannot help but be distracted, overwhelmed, and perhaps even struggle to accomplish our daily tasks. While there are many helpful reminders for us to make sense of all that is happening around us, is it necessary to respond to and buy into everything that is out there?

If you enter a shopping mall, you will probably be reminded of what festivities, events, and seasons we are in. Just by looking at the decor when I visit any NTUC store, I can guess what is coming up. They are one step ahead of us in priming us to prepare, buy, and even suggest ways to celebrate the events. I must admit, there isn’t much to advertise for Good Friday and Easter, except for eggs, which are not really part of the narrative. One cannot imagine advertisements and merchandise for the crucifix, Roman soldier props, nails stuck into artificial hands and legs, whips, a crown of thorns, spears, a sponge dipped in vinegar, or even gaming devices to cast lots. No, it would almost feel like Halloween. Perhaps it is too gory even for the commercial industry to gain from. And maybe it is a good thing that it remains that way. It is too painful, too profound, too marvellous that it cannot be turned into entertainment.

What can prime us then for such an important event as Good Friday and Easter, which forms the most crucial part of our faith and belief? Given that many distractions come to us through our senses—what we see, hear, feel, taste, and smell—I wonder what might happen if some of our senses are numbed. Imagine not being able to see for a day. Imagine not being able to hear, feel, taste, or smell for a while.

The Bible records that Jesus often withdrew from the crowd to pray. He fasted and went into the wilderness where he would be tested. Matthew 4:2ff says, ² After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. ³ The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread…throw yourself down… bow down and worship me” And when he was tempted, he refused to be enticed by the very temptations that might appeal to our senses and our need for the hour. He was strengthened and attended to by the angels.

Lent is the perfect time for us believers to numb some of our senses so that we might truly be able to sense the presence of our loving God and experience His reign over our lives more deeply.

For some people, some of their senses are numbed not for a day but for life. While we may feel sorry for such individuals, the numbness they have endured brings about deep spiritual understanding in their lives with God, a depth we may not have encountered. Such people are able to see God clearly and have heightened sensitivity to God at work in their lives. One such person was Fanny Crosby, who was blinded at 6 weeks. She lived to a ripe old age of 94 and wrote thousands of songs, some of which we sing even today.

Her songs take us deep into the soul of someone whose sight was numbed, but it made her see heavenly realms—something we may not be able to grasp when blinded and seduced by the world. In her blindness, she would go on to experience God’s abiding presence and light in her life, inspiring those around her and beyond. In one of her hymns, “Blessed Assurance,” she could see a ‘foretaste of glory divine,’ and ‘visions of rapture, now burst on my sight.’ She famously said about her blindness, “It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank him for the dispensation. If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow, I would not accept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by the beautiful and interesting things about me.”

Our opening song for this Sunday, Praise Him! Praise Him!, is written by Fanny Crosby. As we join her in singing this magnificent hymn, may it open our inner eyes to fully experience and praise Him—our Lord, Redeemer, Prophet, Priest, and King, who suffered, bled, died, and rose again that we might have eternal salvation.

Praise Him! Praise Him!*

Chester G. Allen, Fanny Jane Crosby
CCLI Song #40409
© Words: Public Domain; Music: Public Domain
For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License #257565

Verse 1
Praise Him praise Him Jesus our blessed Redeemer
Sing O earth His wonderful love proclaim
Hail Him hail Him highest archangels in glory
Strength and honor give to His holy name
Like a shepherd Jesus will guard His children
In His arms He carries them all day long

Chorus
Praise Him praise Him
Tell of His excellent greatness
Praise Him praise Him
Ever in joyful song

Verse 2
Praise Him praise Him Jesus our blessed Redeemer
For our sins He suffered and bled and died
He our Rock our hope of eternal salvation
Hail Him hail Him Jesus the Crucified
Sound His praises Jesus who bore our sorrows
Love unbounded wonderful deep and strong

Verse 3
Praise Him praise Him Jesus our blessed Redeemer
Heav’nly portals loud with hosannas ring
Jesus Savior reigneth forever and ever
Crown Him crown Him Prophet and Priest and King
Christ is coming over the world victorious
Pow’r and glory unto the Lord belong.

As we approach the Lent season, which starts on 5 March, may God help us to numb our senses to the distractions of the world and may we see visions of rapture bursting in our inner sights. May we, like Jesus in Matthew 4:10 say, ‘Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’