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Blind and Refined

Blind and Refined

By: John Powers
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About this listen

A routine physical for 28 year old John Powers led to an eye specialist informing John that half his sight was gone. He had no idea. A degenerative eye disease (choroideremia) would eventually lead to blindness. 30 years later, John recounts what helped and hindered him on his “challenging and messy” journey of sight loss.

This is a candid narrative in which denial and resistance eventually gave way to acceptance and the assistance of a supportive community and the riches of his Christian faith.

“I think there are others out there who get a life changing diagnosis, and all of a sudden, they have to find a new way forward.”

© 2025 Blind and Refined Spirituality
Episodes
  • Episode 7 - Getting Lost to Find My Way

    Episode 7 - Getting Lost to Find My Way
    Oct 16 2025

    In this final episode of Blind and Refined Season 1, John recounts lessons from his blindness training in Des Moines—where getting lost, quite literally, became a path to finding confidence and independence. Reflecting on how discomfort and challenge can refine us, he invites listeners to consider what has helped and hindered their own growth. With gratitude and humor, John and his guide dog Gibbs wrap up Season 1 with encouragement to keep growing, even when the way forward isn’t clear.


    Cover artwork: Jennie Lodien

    Editing assistance, Ann Powers and Wayne Hepler

    Audio Editing: Reed Seely

    Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
    https://uppbeat.io/t/christopher-galovan/peace-be-with-you
    License code: 6BBTWLZGASK3QFNM
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    11 mins
  • Episode 6 - Tapping in to the Divine

    Episode 6 - Tapping in to the Divine
    Oct 1 2025

    John reflects on the spiritual side of living with disability, likening it to tapping into a hidden artesian well that brings life and strength. He weaves together research on the benefits of spirituality, his own story of grief after the loss of his son, and the hope he finds in the teachings of Jesus. This episode points to a God who enters into human suffering and offers rest, resilience, and renewed perspective for the journey.


    Cover artwork: Jennie Lodien

    Editing assistance, Ann Powers and Wayne Hepler

    Audio Editing: Reed Seely

    Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
    https://uppbeat.io/t/christopher-galovan/peace-be-with-you
    License code: 6BBTWLZGASK3QFNM
    Show More Show Less
    9 mins
  • Episode 5 - The White Cane Moment: From Shame to the First Step

    Episode 5 - The White Cane Moment: From Shame to the First Step
    Sep 23 2025

    John tells the pivotal story of a clinic visit and a blunt, compassionate exchange that exposed his embarrassment about losing sight and pushed him toward acceptance — including the humbling but clarifying “confrontational” vision test and the suggestion to train with a white cane. He explains how naming feelings early, sharing them with trusted people (and caring for partners/caregivers), and embracing grief as a refining process helped him stop lashing out and begin healthier, braver steps forward.

    Cover artwork: Jennie Lodien

    Editing assistance, Ann Powers and Wayne Hepler

    Audio Editing: Reed Seely

    Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
    https://uppbeat.io/t/christopher-galovan/peace-be-with-you
    License code: 6BBTWLZGASK3QFNM
    Show More Show Less
    8 mins
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