“What are those things the horses have by their eyes?” I asked my mom, pointing to the small black squares of leather by the draft horses’ eyes. It looked like they wouldn’t be able to see anything with those on!
“Those are called blinders.” She explained they were to help keep the horses from getting distracted or spooked by whatever entered their peripheral vision.
This visual from childhood has stuck with me. I’ve used it as an example to students of how to keep their focus and “get in the zone” while working. I demonstrate blinders with my hands, telling them they can put up their hoods, sit facing a wall, put in earbuds, or whatever helps them concentrate on their work. After reading more about these blinders, I have come to see an even broader and deeper significance to them.
According to Dallas Equestrian Center, the fact that horses' eyes sit on the sides of their heads indicates they are hunted in the wild; otherwise, as hunters, their eyes would be in front, like cats. Their strong peripheral vision enables them to see and quickly flee from predators. For domesticated horses, this means they "can end up running off course unless they are made to remain focused,” as the “flight” reflex will kick in if any perceived danger enters their vision. Blinders are especially important for race horses and those pulling carts, carriages, wagons, or plows, who must “keep their eyes focused on what is ahead, rather than what is at the side or behind,” not only for speed’s sake, but also for the safety of the horse and its rider or load. (http://www.dallasequestriancenter.com/why-do-horses-wear-blinders/)
Covering all or part of the horse’s vision may thus help a horse trust its leader and “take chances it would not normally take.” The story goes that the inventor of blinders was a preacher who bet his friends he could get his horse to walk up the stairs of his house. The horse did easily, but then it would not return down. When the preacher covered the horse’s head, however, he was able to lead the horse back down the stairs. (Dallas Equestrian Center)
This reminds me of the story of Peter in Matthew 14. During the night, he was crossing a lake with the other disciples, while Jesus stayed behind to pray on the mountainside. “The boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it,” when they saw a man walking on the water toward them. They were overtaken with fear, believing him to be a ghost.
But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. (v. 26-29)
But Peter had no blinders. “When he saw the wind,” the danger in his peripheral vision, the risk he was taking, took his focus, incurring fear that overtook his trust in the Savior. He began to sink, so he cried out, “Lord, save me!” (v. 30)
Peter cried out for salvation after losing faith in its pre-existence. He did not trust that Jesus’ calling him to come had already confirmed Peter’s safety, all the way to Jesus. He allowed the perceived danger, the trial, the trouble, to take his gaze. The story continues:
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” (v. 31)
Peter doubted because he did not fix his eyes on Jesus and only Him, but allowed himself to be distracted and pulled off course by the dangers in his peripheral vision. Of “fixing your eyes,” MacmillanDictionary.com states, “If you fix your eyes or your attention on someone or something, you look straight at them and at nothing else.” In other words, you look forward with “blinders” on. Peter forgot his blinders. Blinders do not eliminate danger, enemies, or trouble; blinders remove your view of them. As Proverbs 4:25 (NLT) advises, “Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.” If Jesus is front and center in your vision, He is “what lies before you” and nothing else can take His place. To conclude the story:
And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” (v. 32)
The other disciples did not have the faith to step out of the boat. They did not even seem to fully believe in Jesus as the Son of God until they had seen His power, not only to walk on water, but also to calm the wind. They trusted in their own eyes, in what they could see, rather than the truth of His Word, the unseen. Unlike them, let us “fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV).
Our salvation is not dependent on our asking Christ to save us. He has already done this. Our ability to walk upon the water, with our eyes fixed ahead and blinders on to the predators and risks, is dependent upon our trust that He has already won, has already saved us, and will not forsake us. Psalm 16:8 (NIV) confirms: “I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”
And then peace. As prayed in Isaiah 26:3 (ESV), “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”
How do we stay our minds on Christ? How do we put on those blinders of faith and see Him through all the distraction, temptation, confusion, argument, pain, and anything else that rises up to tell us we are in trouble? How do we see Him always as enough? As Savior before we even need ask? How do we follow Him, “blindly,” trusting Him to see beyond what our naked eyes see, to the unseen, eternal Truth?
First, read, meditate on, and store up in your heart His Word, His commandments, His Truth, and submit your ways to the path of this Truth. Consider the following passage:
Psalm 119:5-6, 9-16
Oh that my ways may be steadfast
in keeping your statutes!
Then I shall not be put to shame,
having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
With my whole heart I seek you;
let me not wander from your commandments!
I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
Blessed are you, O Lord;
teach me your statutes!
With my lips I declare
all the rules[c] of your mouth.
In the way of your testimonies I delight
as much as in all riches.
I will meditate on your precepts
and fix my eyes on your ways.
I will delight in your statutes;
I will not forget your word.
Furthermore, open your heart to God, speak to Him, and listen for His voice. Fix your eyes on Jesus, “the author and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:2 NASB). Look straight at Him and His Word and nothing else.
Pray. Before doubting or becoming nervous about any situation, “fix your thoughts on Jesus” (Hebrews 3:1 NIV) and lay it before God. Then “trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Prov. 3:5-6 ESV).
Consider fasting. This is a way to put on the “blinders” to distractions, temptations, addictions, or even “needs” that can pull our vision from the “All-We-Need” embodied— Jesus.
In the words of an old song,
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace. (Helen H. Limmel, 1922)
Walk to Him, not looking down, to the side, or behind. Only forward.
Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
