My Untold Sight Loss Journey - Part 3

This week, as I continue sharing untold stories from my sight loss journey, we are taking it back to 2019 and 2020. I hope you enjoy!

2019:

In 2019, I graduated from college…Finally! It was a day that I had been looking forward to since I began my collegiate journey in 2012.

After losing my sight, it was also a day that I never thought would come.

On a December morning, however, I donned my cap and gown and made my way to the University of West Georgia to receive my diploma.

As someone who is blind, I often have different concerns than the average person.

When I made the decision to walk at graduation, one of those concerns was how I would navigate the ceremony. To make the day a bit easier and less stressful, I made the choice to walk with a sighted guide.

This meant that someone would guide me throughout all the pomp and circumstance of graduation day.

Who better, I thought, than my best friend, Erica?

The University graciously allowed this accommodation, and they invited us to come a few days before the ceremony to familiarize ourselves with the walk. The staff also put an extra chair in the row where I would sit for Erica.

When my name was called and Erica and I strode across the stage, I could hardly believe it when she whispered in my ear that I was receiving a standing ovation.

Erica and Sara Claudia smiling at the camera behind the stage, just moments before Sara Claudia received her standing ovation and received her diploma.

Everyone was on their feet cheering as I grinned and received my hard-earned diploma. It was a moment that I will never forget!

As my sister watched from the audience, she videoed my walk across the stage, and I love being able to replay the experience.

It reminds me not only of the support I received at that moment, but also of the support that was given to me throughout my collegiate career from my family, friends, and many others.

How often do we hit the “replay” button on God’s support in our lives as well?

Experiences such as my exciting graduation can serve to remind us of God’s faithfulness, work, and blessings.

When we reflect on all He has done in the past to get us where we are today, we can be filled with hope for the future!

2020:

In 2020, our lives were all turned upside down when the COVID pandemic swept across the globe.

During the spring of that year, we were put under a shelter-in-place order in Georgia. Although I lived alone at the time, I was not too worried about it at first.

As a homebody, I am perfectly comfortable spending time at my house. In addition, as someone who is blind and must rely on others to get out of the house, I am used to being at home for a few days at a time.

However, as the days progressed, I found myself becoming increasingly stir-crazy.

One activity that gave some relief to this feeling of being trapped in my home was to take my white cane and head for my backyard.

There, amongst the singing birds, chirping crickets, and easy breeze, I would walk laps around my backyard trailing my fence with my cane. Sometimes, I would do this for hours, and by the end of the shelter in place, I had a nice path worn down in my grass.

Looking back now, the activity seems so repetitive, boring, and mundane. But it also created a stirring in me that I will never forget.

During that time in my life, I was experiencing a personal revival.

Sara Claudia smiling while looking down and signing a copy of Blind Faith Devotional. There is a stack of the devotionals just in front of her on the table.

For the first time, I was really diving into Scripture and studying God’s Word.

On those walks around my yard, I would think about what I had read that day, talk to God about its meaning, and ask Him all the questions that were swirling in my head.

When I stepped away from the noise of the news on the television and the chirping of my phone, I found a closeness with God in those still, unbusied moments.

God used these simple treks to grow my faith, teach me about him, and even find inspiration for my first book, Blind Faith Devotional: 30 Days of Finding Light, Building Faith, and Choosing Joy.

This monotonous, mundane task not only resulted in my first publication, but it was also where I felt closest to God during a very scary and uncertain time.

Thinking back on those long walks around my yard reminds me that, sometimes, the simple, quiet moments of life are all we need to turn our minds to God and allow His presence to comfort, strengthen, and bless us.

Keep an eye out for the last installment of this series where I will share an untold story from 2021!

Here is a little teaser…it involves my husband, Seth, and my guide dog, Jackson! You won’t want to miss it!

Text that says, "This blog is sponsored by:"

North Point Baptist Church, located at 1400 Cedar Street in Carrollton, GA, is committed to providing a Biblical, compelling, challenging, and life-changing time of worship to show you the love of God. Every member of your family, from the youngest to the oldest, will be met with a friendly face and an opportunity to grow and learn from the word of God.

The Athletic Eye, a new division of Tillman Eye Center, provides sports vision training that focuses on heightening an athlete’s visual abilities and overall performance within their sport. Through visual tests and screenings, professionals determine where a player stands concerning their optical performance. Athletic Eye can then develop a comprehensive training program specific to their strengths, weaknesses, and even their sport of choice.