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Extreme Light Adaptation — a Glimpse of Wonder entry™ — 1 of 4 —


dljbsp

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You’re outside in the sun when someone calls your name from inside a dark garage. You step in—and for a moment, it’s like you’ve gone blind. But within seconds, the outlines return. A minute later, you can see almost everything. How?

 

Light adaptation is just one reason the human eye stirs awe. In bright light, specialized cells in the retina adjust sensitivity by rapidly changing their response levels. Step into the dark, and other cells—the rods—gradually take over, boosting their sensitivity by regenerating a molecule called rhodopsin.

 

But even more striking is how the brain gets involved. The pupils shrink or dilate, sure—but the visual cortex is also at work, recalibrating expectations and filtering noise as new input floods in. You don’t merely *see* again. You *adjust*, so completely and unconsciously that you forget you were ever blind in the first place.

What if our spiritual vision could do the same?

 

When we’re suddenly thrown into a dark experience, we might feel blinded. But Jehovah created us with more than just physical adaptation. He teaches us to perceive light even in hardship. Psalm 112:4 (NWT) says: “Light has flashed up for the righteous.” That light isn’t circumstantial—it’s spiritual.

 

We can regain our footing because our Creator designed us to. We adjust, we wait, we keep seeking the light—and eventually, we see again.
 

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On 7/9/2025 at 8:32 AM, BLEmom said:

What are some real life situations that could make one feel blinded?  What are some ways to recover sight?

 

That question really opens the door for something meaningful. Just like our physical eyes can be temporarily blinded by sudden exposure to intense light, our spiritual eyes can also be overwhelmed in real life. It might happen when someone first learns a powerful Bible truth before they’re emotionally ready to accept it — like the idea that God has a name, or that he doesn’t cause suffering. Now, I’ll be honest — I’ve always found it surprising when people get thrown by that first one. To me, learning that God has a name was a beautiful thing. Suddenly he wasn’t just a title in the sky — he was personal. Real. Closer. But for someone raised on the idea that “God” is this vague, distant force, finding out he has an actual name — Jehovah — can feel like too much light at once. Even though it’s good news, it can still sting the eyes a bit. That blinding moment doesn’t mean something’s wrong with the truth — it just means the heart needs time to adjust.

 

And then there are the moments that don’t come with new facts — they come with impact. A loss, a betrayal, a sudden hit to your health or confidence — and just like that, you’re blinking hard, trying to find your footing. You still believe what you believed yesterday, but everything’s fuzzy. You’re not blind, exactly. Just squinting in the spiritual glare.

 

But here’s the mercy in it: Jehovah doesn’t stand there tapping his foot while we stumble around. Psalm 119:105 doesn’t say his word is a stadium light to fry your retinas — it’s a lamp to your foot. One step at a time. That means we don’t have to see the whole road. Just enough to keep moving forward. Sometimes that light comes in the form of a gentle reminder from a friend. Or a quiet moment at the meeting where something clicks again. Or maybe it’s a walk around the block with a prayer hanging in the air like fog — no big answers, just the sense that you’re not alone in it.

 

If you’ve ever felt spiritually “blinded,” that’s not failure. It might just mean you’re mid-adjustment. And when you keep turning toward Jehovah — even with one eye half-closed and your hand shielding your face — eventually that light that once overwhelmed you becomes the very thing that clears your vision. And when that happens… well, you don’t forget it.

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Psalm 112:4 is a very intriguing scripture. This morning I was pondering Peter's words regarding the "daystar" rising "in your hearts". (2 Peter 1:19) Who's hearts? I was wondering, is that something specific to the anointed experiencing their choosing for that special role they have in Jehovah's purpose when they first 'get' the truth? 

 

When I first started studying, the things I was hearing could poetically be referred to as a light getting brighter ... a slowly brightening light bulb. To this day, it's all the more thrilling to see all the evidence pointing more and more to the bright light of Jehovah's Day. It disheartens to feel no where near worthy of it—that is, the future in store for approved, upright ones.

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