Pastor’s Notes

Anableps anableps is a species of fish from South and Central America that is often referred to as the “Four-eyed fish”. Though there really are not four eyes the reason for this nickname is evident. It is due to a unique division of its two eyes that allows this surface dweller to see clearly both above and below the surface of the water. A band of pigment divides the eye horizontally at the waterline and allows the fish to spot predatory fish within the water and predatory birds that might attack from the air. There is even a golden flap on the iris, just above and behind this line of pigment, which shields the “terrestrial” eye from the glare off the water. The portion of the lens behind the upper division of the eye is flattened and designed for light rays that travel through the atmosphere while the lens behind the lower portion of the pupil (opening though which light travels into the eye, i.e. the dark round circle of the human eye) is rounded and designed to bend and focus light rays that travel in water. Underwater images are focused by the lens on the upper portion of the retina (nervous layer at the back of the eye that sends “visual” impulses to the brain) while light from the terrestrial vision is focused on the lower half of the retina. Both images are inverted when they land on the retina and the fish‟s tiny brain must turn them right side up and around so that the fish can make appropriate movements to avoid predation (being eaten) or to capture its own food. What an amazing design God has provided for this creature!
Paul tells us that in this world we see through a glass darkly (I Corinthians 13:12) … i.e. our spiritual vision is clouded. We can only hope to make any sense at all from the spiritual happenings around us when viewing life‟s circumstances through the eyes of the Holy Spirit. Even then God often does not clear our vision totally. I believe the reason for this is that we must find the faith to trust God even when we can see little of what God is doing. So we must be “four-eyed” as much as is possible in that we view the world not only through human eyes but though the spiritual eyes (eyes that truly see) provided us by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Your pastor,

Dr. H