The Wilful Sunflower

This is so cool: “Blind people can already surf the Web using screen access software that translates information into synthesized speech or Braille. A new technology could change the way they use the Web by allowing them to ‘feel’ electronic images and graphics.”

Full text: Feeling Is Believing
(Found whilst browsing No Sense Of Place)

Thinking of those without sight reminds me of Fanny Crosby, the American lady who wrote more than 8,000 hymns in her lifetime. She was quoted as saying of 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.”

Now, THAT is true contentment. Can any of us say the same thing? That we’re perfectly happy not having whatever we don’t have, and that if we had it, we’d probably be worse off? She might not have had the ability to see, but Fanny Crosby certainly saw more than most of us do! She saw what was real and essential.

She’s the author of hymns such as All The Way, My Saviour Leads Me, Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine, Draw Me Nearer (I Am Thine, O Lord), In The Cross, Praise Him, Praise Him, Jesus My Blessed Redeemer, Redeemed, How I Love To Proclaim It!, and To God Be The Glory, Great Things He Hath Done.

Here are the beautiful words to All The Way, My Saviour Leads Me:

All the way my Saviour leads me;
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my Guide?
Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well;
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.

All the way my Saviour leads me,
Cheers each winding path I tread;
Gives me grace for every trial,
Feeds me with the living Bread.
Though my weary steps may falter
And my soul athirst may be,
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see;
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see.

All the way my Saviour leads me,
O the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised
In my Father’s house above.
When my spirit, clothed immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way;
This my song through endless ages:
Jesus led me all the way.

Awesome, and so true.