Open Our Eyes
Seeing is one of our five senses. When we play the “What If?” game on which of the five senses you would be willing to be without, seeing is rarely selected. We may give up on our ability to smell or taste or even hear, but our ability to see is the one that we treasure the most.
Gary Chong was an optical technician. Before Lens Crafters and Warby Parker, there was Gary Chong and Lenstek Optical Lab. When we go get new eyeglasses because we are finding it difficult to see and a new prescription is written, the actual lenses needed to be made someplace. Gary used to make these lenses by hand. Most of the time, we spend lots of time and money picking out the frames that would make us look good. We often refer to our eyeglasses by the frames that we try on from Warby Parker. But it’s the lenses that enable us to see again!
By the way, I have bifocals so that I can see better both near and far but most people would say, “Those are nice glasses you have!” They are vintage with engravings on the sides and the grey color goes with my gray hair. But it’s the lenses that enable me to see you today.
There’s a healing story in Mark 8 when Jesus came to Bethsaida. Some people brought a blind man to Jesus and begged him to touch him. Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Jesus then took saliva and put it on the eyes of the blind man and laid his hands on him. Jesus then asked him, “Can you see anything?” And the man looked up and said, “I can see people but they look like trees, walking.” Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he looked intently at the blind man. The man’s sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Jesus then sent him away to his home.
Making lenses as an optical technician like who Gary was is nothing short of performing miracles for people who can’t see clearly. Jesus restored the blind man’s sight so that he can return home and become an acceptable member of his household again. Gary made eyeglass lenses making it possible for us to drive safely, work productively, read informatively, and live joyously. Gary’s contribution to us is to help us see clearly again just like each one of us in our particular and unique way are making a difference in the livelihood of others.
Some of you teach so others can learn. Some of you cook so we can eat. Some of you work with numbers so that we be precise and honest. Some of you are working in front of computers so that data can improve our living conditions. Some are connecting wires together so that we can communicate. Just like Gary, all of us in our own special ways contribute to the making of a more safe, just, and peaceful world.
Gary and I share one interest. Some call it a problem but we see it as a gift! We are neat freaks. Gary likes to pick up lint off the floor. He keeps both the house and his car sparkling clean. He wears cleaned and ironed shirts. His shiny zippered shoes reflect back on his eyes that he is ready from head to toes! I think the photo of him in a tuxedo and a bowtie is perfect today because one cannot be more immaculately dressed than in formals.
But Gary was not only neat and proper on the outside, he was also like that through and through in the inside. I like the ways his children and grandchildren talk about how attentive, caring and loving Gary was to them. Perhaps the greatest gift anyone can give is the gift of time. Gary was willing to spend time picking up grandkids, playing checkers with them, grabbing a snack and becoming a “secret pal” with his grandkids so that they would always have someone with whom they can trust and share their true feelings and ideas. Don’t we all need someone like that? When Gary was neat and organized, he was then able to give of his time to be with his family and friends. Gary saw you and loved you.
Many Sundays when I would arrive at church to begin my long day, I would see Gary and Gil Quong sitting on the church pew outside of the church office. I would say to them, “You guys remind me of Simon and Garfunkel’s song, Old Friends.
“Old friends
Old friends
Sat on their park bench
Like bookends”
Gary and Gil were tasked with the responsibility to count the church’s morning offerings. They did this because we trusted them. They did this because they were old friends who were looking out for the welfare of the life of the church community.
There were many times that Gary in his very sublime way would mention something to me. It was never a demand or a shout. It was more like a hint, a word, a suggestion for me to look into something. And when I hear from an old friend like Gary, I would look into it. Gary was one who was the ears and eyes of collecting information for me to succeed as a pastor. We pastors, all need people like Gary because he can see clearly.
In the Gospel of John, there is the account of the many sightings of the risen Christ after the crucifixion by the disciples. One of these is his disciple Thomas (20:24). When the other disciples had seen Jesus, Thomas said, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
After a week, the disciples and Thomas were in the house. The risen Christ passed through a closed door and stood among them, saying “Peace be with you.” Then Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.”
Thomas exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”
While Gary Chong over his long life enabled many to regain their abilities to see more clearly, Gary believed in Jesus Christ without having to express the doubts as Thomas did. Gary was blessed to have not seen for himself and yet have come to believe in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.
As we are able to see today. As we are able to see one another. As we are able to see the beauty of this world and how God is present in everything and in everyone. Like Gary Chong, we are then able to affirm and confirm our faith in God’s love and mercy for all of creation.
There’s a very familiar worship praise song,
“Open Our Eyes, Lord,
we want to see Jesus,
To reach out and touch him,
and say that we love Him.
Open our ears, Lord,
and help us to listen,
Open our eyes, Lord,
we want to see Jesus.
Gary Chong was one of the many disciples of our Lord who helped many to see clearly. Not just physically see clearly so that we won’t just see trees but to see clearly that Jesus Christ is our Lord. For that, we are grateful and thankful for Gary Chong to be a part of our lives.
Let us pray.
Paul Bunyan, the English evangelist once said, “Keep that light in your eye, and go directly thereto, so shalt thou then see the gate.” Let us pray.
Gracious God, thank you for blessing the family of Gary Chong with his life. His love for you and his love for his family are reflections of your love for us. Lord, we know that as long as we continue to tell stories about Gary with each other and to see how his life is a model for ours today, his life will remain a living legacy to undergird ours with love, compassionate, and joy. We pray for comfort and the reassurance that when it’s our time to come home to you, we faithfully seek the promise of eternal life made possible by the life, death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is in his holy name whom we pray. Amen.
Committal Service
Gary Wayne Chong
The Psalmist said, “I lift up my eyes to the hills—from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” (Ps. 121:1-2)
From John, “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” (Jn 3:16)
Words of Committal
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, we commend to God’s merciful care our brother, Gary Wayne Chong; and we commit his body to this place: earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
Let us pray.
O God, you sent your Son, Jesus Christ, to bring life, and our ability to see immortality in the light of Christ. We entrust Gary Wayne Chong to your everlasting care. Grant us the awareness that each of our days is a true gift from you, to be lived preciously and joyously in hopeful expectation of eternal life in divine presence with those whom we love. As we will always remember Gary Wayne Chong’s smile and laughter that have brought happiness into our life as a family, we pray that you, Lord will smile upon us with love. In the name of Jesus, the Lord of life, we pray. Amen.
Benediction
Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord. (Ps. 31:24)
And now, may the Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. (Num: 6:24-26) Amen.