Blinded By Hatred

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Is it possible to be actually blinded by our emotions? The phrases ‘blinded by anger’ ‘blinded by passion’, and in religious conversions, ‘blinded by the light’ are common. The phrase doesn’t refer to the eyes, but to our sense of reason. Someone angered into a revenge attack doesn’t think of the consequences assault or attempted murder might bring afterwards. The lover being used for money or other purposes is emotionally blinded to the negative aspects of his partner’s personality and behavior. In the Bible, Saul (later Paul) is blinded first by his zealous contempt for Christians, helping to hunt them down for the Pharisees, but when he has his vision of Christ he is rather literally blinded by the explosion of faith in Jesus on route to Damascus. His sight of anything outside that one track commitment is filtered out of his senses. Most of the time we are not blinded by our passions. Van Gogh painted in a frenzy, while most artists could handle inspiration better – staying in control, unblended. Blind drunk is different of course, as eyesight, and other senses or abilities fail to function in a state of intoxication. On the whole I am happier holding on to my faculties. I like to stay self-aware and in control. Arthur Chappell