Let Us Open the Eyes of the Spirit
We are spiritual beings on a pilgrimage through this world. For a time, we inhabit a kind of shell — an armor we call the physical body. Yet even from a scientific perspective, this “armor” is anything but permanent. The molecular and cellular components of our bodies are in constant renewal. Cells die and are replaced. Stem cells within our tissues quietly sustain and repair us. In a very real sense, the person who is physically 50 years old is not made of the same matter that existed in childhood. We are organisms in continuous transformation.
Even our thoughts arise from a physical organ: the brain. This extraordinary structure allows us to reason, reflect, deduce, create, and explore the mysteries of the universe through science. It sets us apart within the visible world.
Even so, there is something deeper than biology and intellect.
At the core of our being lies the spirit — our central essence, unique and irreplaceable. The spirit is what gives us true life and makes us fully human. It enables us to love, to feel compassion, to long for God, to seek the common good without selfishness, and to hope for a better future for generations yet to come. While the body changes and the mind develops, the spirit is what defines who we truly are.
Yet the spirit, like any living reality, can weaken. Jesus teaches that it can become stiff, corroded — even blind.
We have free will. Each day we choose between good and evil, light and darkness, generosity and selfishness. Life becomes a kind of spiritual training ground where every decision shapes the condition of our spirit. We were not sent into the world merely to exist, accumulate possessions, or chase fleeting success. We are here to perfect our spirit — to shape it, strengthen it, and allow it to grow.
We are not alone in this task. Jesus is the potter; we are the clay. Still, clay must be molded. Transformation requires surrender.
For the person who lives in harmony with the Holy Spirit, no moment is wasted. Every second — pleasant or painful — becomes an opportunity for spiritual growth. Even suffering has purpose. This truth is beautifully expressed in 1 Peter 1:6–7, where trials are compared to gold refined by fire. Just as precious metal is purified in flames, faith is strengthened through adversity. As steel is forged in fire, so the spirit is strengthened in trial.
Imagine living with what seems like a superpower — the freedom from paralyzing fear, crippling doubt, shame, or inferiority. Imagine facing life’s storms without losing inner peace. Would that not be true freedom?
A person who is filled with the Holy Spirit lives precisely in this way. We see it in the luminous lives of the saints. Their circumstances were not always easy, yet their interior strength was unshakable.
So how do we cultivate such a spirit? By opening the eyes of the spirit.
From Adam until today, humanity has shared one undeniable reality: we are sinners. That is why Jesus often healed physical blindness while teaching about its deeper meaning — spiritual blindness. In John 9:39–41, He warns that those who admit their blindness can be healed, but those who insist they see, have no room left for grace. The one who acknowledges his need for God opens the door to transformation. The one who denies it risks remaining trapped.
When the eyes of the spirit are opened, something remarkable happens. You begin to perceive life differently. A sunset becomes a whisper from Heaven. Acts of kindness feel like encounters with angels. Peace settles into your heart — not a fragile peace dependent upon circumstances, but a deep, abiding assurance that you are fully loved by your Heavenly Father.
This peace is not idleness or the absence of problems. It is a divine stability rooted in trust.
We invest time strengthening our bodies, going to the gym, caring for our health. So, let us not neglect the daily exercise of the spirit: prayer, gratitude, forgiveness, charity, and trust. These are the disciplines that build eternal strength.
Let us open the eyes of the spirit. Let us allow ourselves to be molded; and may we never forget to say, each day: Jesus, I trust in You.
Fernando Dangond, MD, was born in Colombia, South America. He and his wife, Monica, live in Weston, MA, and have been blessed with two sons Daniel and David and a beautiful daughter, Christina (the inspiration behind Build the Faith) who left to be with the Lord 7 years ago.
Dr. Dangond, is a neurologist and scientist who works for a pharmaceutical company developing medicines to treat devastating neurological diseases.
