In the Blink of an Eye

Psalm 6:6
“I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.”

The miracle takes place in the blink of an eye. Literally.

Every time you blink, you bathe the surface of your eye with a miraculous fluid called tears. Tears are not simply a salty water solution. They are made of water, but also have oils, electrolytes and sticky carbohydrates called mucins. In addition, they contain antibacterial and antiviral substances. One of these substances is called lysozyme. Any bacteria or virus that finds itself in tear fluid has a 95 percent chance of being dead within ten minutes. That blink of an eye keeps the surface of the eye properly moisturized so that our vision remains clear. Without this moisturization, your eyes would become red and painful, and, if untreated, you would probably go blind. Tear fluid also provides needed oxygen to the surface of your eyes.

But perhaps the most amazing property of tears is even more unexpected. Humans are the only creatures that cry emotional tears. Studies have shown that the ability to produce tears and cry actually helps us cope with emotional situations. There are some inherited diseases which make people unable to cry tears. Studies have shown that people with this disease cannot deal well with stress.

Tears are a blessing in many ways. But we also remember that God has promised to wipe away all our tears when we reach heaven.

Prayer:
Father, I thank You for the gift of crying tears, and I thank You that You have promised to wipe away our tears in heaven. Amen.

Notes:
Creation in the Crossfire, 8/02, pp. 3-4, Jerry Bergman, “Design of tears: an example of irreducible complexity.”

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