Vision | Nikki Lopez

Many of you know that I suffer from a vision loss that has left me legally blind. For many years I was in denial and was hiding my disability. I only told the people that I trusted. I did not want to be different and stand out because I did not want to admit it to myself that I needed help. In those dark days (years), I felt alone and lost. I could not see a light at the end of the tunnel. Luckily, God had plans for me, and I did not even know it. I was raised in church- attending every week, baptized as a young adult and fellowshipping with other Christians- but I did not KNOW GOD.

Because I did not know God, I could not see God in my life. I could not see that He ordained people to be in my life or even where I lived.

For over 10 years, I had a counselor for the blind that tried to get me to come to Chicago and visit the school for the blind. I thought she was crazy; I was not blind. When God had put so many road blocks in my way that the only way out was to go through that door, I went.

Going through that door made me face my fears of what was I going to do with my life. How do I move forward- how do I LIVE?

As I visited and then attended the school, God showed me through the director and staff that I could be more than I ever thought I could be. That I had hope and purpose, even with a vision loss. Going to that school gave me the courage to attend college. A thought that had never crossed my mind before. The funny thing about God’s plans were that He even put me in a Christian college. I had to take Bible classes and attend chapel, all of which I thought was just something I had to endure for the sake of a diploma. Overtime He showed me His amazing grace, His mercy, and most of all His Love. He had a vision for my life that I could have never dreamed of for myself. He has brought my vision loss disability to an ability teach others with vision loss.

When I was growing up my favorite song was Amazing Grace because my prayer was for God to heal me from a vision loss. Now, my favorite song is still Amazing Grace but I pray for God to use my loss of vision to help others. God has a vision for each and every one of us. We just have to be open to go through those doors of fear.

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