WORD

Whale's 'Blind Spot' Likely Cause of Collision With Fishing Vessel
The Wired Word for the Week of August 4, 2024

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In the News

On the morning of Tuesday, July 23, a humpback whale breached off the coast of New Hampshire before slamming into a 21-foot fishing boat, flipping it onto its side and dumping anglers Greg Paquette and Ryland Kenney into the ocean.

Teenage brothers Wyatt and Colin Yager of Eliot, Maine, videotaped the incident, which occurred near the mouth of the Piscataqua River, and then rescued the fishermen, who were surprised and wet but uninjured in the encounter. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), they were not able to determine whether the whale suffered injuries.

Jen Kennedy, executive director of the Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation based in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, said there were a few sightings of a juvenile humpback whale in or near the river earlier in July. In all her years of whale watching (since the mid-1990s), Kennedy said, she'd never heard of a humpback attacking a boat in the region.

Regina Asmutis-Silvia, executive director of Whale and Dolphin Conservation North America, indicated that the identity of the whale that struck the boat on Tuesday had not been established. 

"NOAA has been getting multiple reports of humpback whales close to shore between Maine and Massachusetts as schools of bait fish are abundant close to shore," she explained. "We just reported three whales in Plymouth's outer harbor to NOAA earlier this week."

The whales are mostly juveniles who are probably chasing menhaden, a prey fish, according to NOAA. Linnea Mayfield, a marine naturalist at Boston Harbor City Cruises, affiliated with the New England Aquarium, who viewed the seven-second video filmed by the Yagers, remarked that the whale appeared to be lunging in a classic humpback fishing tactic. 

"It does look like a very actively feeding whale," Mayfield said. Whales blow bubbles into the water, driving the fish up to the surface, "and then they'll lunge through that school of fish and gather a whole bunch of them in their mouth."

"These whales have the single-minded focus of that driver who eyes that one last open parking space after circling the parking lot for a while; they are not paying attention to anything but the food so it really is on the boaters to stay on alert," Asmutis-Silvia recommended.

Mayfield advised that boaters need to give whales space, for everyone's safety. 

"These animals are very aware and they are vulnerable to human activity," she said. "This is not a positive experience interaction for the boaters; it's not a positive interaction for the whale."

Mayfield characterized the incident of the whale landing on the boat as an accident, likely due to the whale's "blind spot," which prevented the whale from seeing the boat.

"There is a blind spot on whales," Mayfield said. "Their eyes are actually located near the corners of their mouth on either side of their head. So right below where that chin area is, they maybe just totally missed that the boat was as close as it was. This was definitely not intentional."

TJ Berens, a retired United States Armed Forces Aerospace Defense Consultant, wrote on Quora that "baleen whales … have two separate mostly non-overlapping fields of view, so, their field of view is basically two almost 180 degree fields. Just as WE have a blindspot in OUR vision, … they have one too… and, BOTH of us have brains that just paste what we assume to be there, into that blind spot."

 

More on this story can be found at these links:

• A Whale Flipped a Fishing Boat With People on Board. Experts Think They Know Why. USA Today

• Expert Says 'Blind Spot' Could Be to Blame for Whale Capsizing Boat Off New Hampshire. CBS

• Human Perception: Our Brain Sees Not What We See, but What We Expect. Earth

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Applying the News Story 

Bill Tinsley, author and church planter coach, writes: "Several years ago I was diagnosed with glaucoma in my left eye, something very similar to the blind spot, but bigger. About 1/4 of the vision in my left eye is missing, and I didn't know it." 

According to Britannica, everyone has a small physical blind spot in each eye where there are no photoreceptors and, therefore, no image detection. With both eyes open, the blind spots are not perceived because the visual fields of the two eyes overlap. Indeed, even with one eye closed, the blind spot can be difficult to detect subjectively because of the ability of the brain to "fill in" or ignore the missing portion of the image.

If you've ever had a phone call, radio signal or internet signal drop while driving in a remote location, you may have been experiencing another kind of blind spot (aka "dead zone"), either because the signals are weak or because your ability to receive those signals is poor. You might also experience a physical blind or dead spot when sitting in a part of an auditorium, arena, stadium or the like where you are unable to see or hear satisfactorily.

The Automobile Association reported that vehicular blind spots contributed to 1,250 accidents in 2016. These blind spots are parts of the road drivers can't see through the windshield or by using rearview and side-view mirrors. To see those areas of the street, drivers need to turn their heads to check what is in their blind spots.

"I thought about blind spots the other day when I was driving on the interstate," wrote TWW team member Stan Purdum. "A semi-truck roared up in the passing lane beside me. As this cab drew level with me, I glanced over and noticed a message painted on the passenger door. It said, 'If you can read this, I can't see you.'

"That referred, of course, to the driver's blind spot, that point between where his reflected sight from the mirror ended and his direct sight out the window began. His sign was a useful warning that there was a spot where I was not in his line of sight."

Just as we have physical blind spots, we also have areas of ignorance, bias and prejudice we fail to recognize in ourselves. According to the American Psychological Association Dictionary of Psychology, this kind of blind spot is "a lack of insight or awareness -- often persistent -- about a specific area of one's behavior or personality, typically because recognition of one's true feelings and motives would be painful."

In the book "Leadership Blind Spots and What to Do About Them," Dr. Karen Blakeley defines a blind spot as "a regular tendency to repress, distort, dismiss or fail to notice information, views or ideas in a particular area that results in an individual failing to learn, change or grow in response to changes in that area."

Collins Dictionary explains that blind spots make it difficult "to understand [something] or to see how important it is."

Wikipedia defines "bias blind spot" as the ability to perceive "the impact of biases on the judgment of others, while failing to see the impact of biases on one's own judgment."

The Bible speaks about our capacity to deceive ourselves: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9 ESV). We tend to think that we are objective and that the way we see ourselves and the world is correct, but we often don't take our spiritual blind spots into account.

Jesus acknowledged spiritual blind spots when he said people failed to comprehend the meaning of his teaching: "The reason I speak to them in parables is that 'seeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand'" (Matthew 13:13).

While we can't completely eliminate our blind spots, there are things we can do to lessen the likelihood that they will cause significant harm to ourselves and to others. Below, we explore what our faith teaches about how to recognize and compensate for our own blind spots.

"But who can detect one's own errors?" we might ask with the psalmist, before praying, "Clear me from hidden faults [my blind spots!]" (Psalm 19:12). 

 

The Big Questions

1. What advantage might a whale have by seeing out of both sides of its head? What disadvantage might a whale have by not being able to see straight in front?

2. How might one's focus on a personal goal or task become a spiritual blind spot that could lead to potentially harmful consequences for others? 

3. Who in the Bible exhibited a blind spot that caused unintended hardship for others?

4. What tools might help people recognize and compensate for their blind spots? 

5. Who in your life can help you discover your blind spots? Are you open to letting them do that? Why or why not?

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Confronting the News With Scripture and Hope
Luke 6:39, 41-42
[Jesus] also told them a parable: "Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? … Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, 'Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor's eye." (For context, read Luke 6:37-42.)

In this passage, Jesus points out the problem of trying to judge others for the same behavior we exhibit. When we are blind to our own faults, but criticize others for the same deficiencies, are we even capable of guiding them to safety? If we are blind, trying to lead other blind people, won't we all stumble?

Paul says something similar: "Therefore you are without excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others, for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things. ... and if you are sure that you are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth, you, then, who teach others, will you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? You who forbid adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by your transgression of the law?" (Romans 2:1, 19-23).

TWW team member Joanna Loucky-Ramsey, who has competed with her dogs in agility, says it is always easier to spot mistakes or areas for improvement in other competitors' runs rather than in her own. But when other trainers offer her pointers, she tries to listen to their suggestions with an open ear, since they can see what she may not see due to her own blind spots. Their feedback helps her make corrections and improvements the next time she competes.

Questions: What blind spots may hinder you from seeing problem areas in the way you live out your faith? When has someone offered you feedback that helped you see a problem you had not noticed before? How did you respond to the input, and what was the result?

 

Matthew 23:23-26 
[Jesus said,] "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. It is these you ought to have practiced without neglecting the others. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel! Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and of the plate, so that the outside also may become clean." (For context, read Matthew 23:16-28.)

These laments are part of a longer litany of woes Jesus expresses about religious leaders who have huge blind spots about their own spirituality. They emphasize matters of relative insignificance, such as a gift on an altar, while ignoring things of much greater importance, such as the altar itself (vv. 16-22). 

In this text, Jesus acknowledges that they tithe their herbs (nothing wrong with that!) but fail to practice justice and mercy and faith. He uses a comic word picture of someone straining an insect out of a drink, who then proceeds to swallow a much larger animal! He likens their behavior to washing the outside of their dinnerware, while leaving debris and mold on the inside. They may look very religious, but their facade barely covers the greed, self-indulgence, corruption, uncleanness, hypocrisy and lawlessness just under the surface (vv. 27-28).   

Questions: Why do people often focus so much on outward appearances rather than on inner qualities and character? What spiritual practices help you to establish and maintain priorities that are pleasing to God?

James 1:22-25
But be doers of the word and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act -- they will be blessed in their doing. (For context, read James 1:22-27.) 

In the context of these verses, James indicates that it is easy to deceive ourselves into thinking that we are really religious (or super-spiritual) just because we surround ourselves with religious people and immerse ourselves in a pseudo-spiritual culture. Self-deception happens when we imagine that hearing messages from or about God is all that God requires of us. 

James stresses the importance of doing the word. He points out these specific areas in which that needs to happen: bridling the tongue (v. 26), "car[ing] for orphans and widows in their distress" and "keep[ing] oneself unstained by the world" (v. 27). If our religion doesn't impact those areas of our lives, we deceive ourselves about how spiritual we really are; we may be unaware that we have blind spots in those areas.

An old Yiddish proverb, "Der spigel der greste farfirer," means "The mirror is the greatest deceiver." For more on mirrors, see Item #3 under For Further Discussion below.

Questions: Why might a mirror deceive the viewer? 

If looking into the mirror of God's word doesn't help us make needed changes, is it the fault of the mirror? Why or why not?

How does the word of God function like a mirror in your life? What should we do when we see ourselves reflected in God's word? 

Revelation 3:15-19
I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. For you say, "I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing." You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. Therefore I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich, and white robes to clothe yourself and to keep the shame of your nakedness from being seen, and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. I reprove and discipline those whom I love. Be earnest, therefore, and repent. (For context, read Revelation 3:14-22.) 

God's message to the church in Laodicea is about their spiritual complacency and self-satisfaction. These believers think they have "arrived," but they have a blind spot where their spiritual poverty is concerned.

It appears the Laodiceans have declared themselves self-sufficient; carried to the extreme, it's a way of saying they don't even need God anymore. In their so-called wealth and prosperity, they are blind to how far they have distanced themselves from God. They are like the emperor who has no clothes, unaware they are spiritually naked.

The solution is to return in repentance to God, to seek true spiritual riches and clothing from God, rather than from themselves, to ask God for salve to anoint their sightless eyes so they may be healed of their spiritual blindness.

Questions: How does this passage relate to Jesus' statement in the Beatitudes, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3)? What does it mean to be "poor in spirit," and why is that condition blessed while the spiritual poverty of the Laodiceans is described as wretched and pitiable? How do we "buy from [God] … salve to anoint [our] eyes so that [we] may see"?

 

For Further Discussion

1. Mrs. Smith was stark naked and just about to step into the shower when the doorbell rang. She hollered, "Who is it?"
     The person at the door shouted back, "It's the blind man."
     Mrs. Smith figured it was safe, so she opened the door.
     The man looked at her in shock and asked, "Where do you want me to hang these blinds, lady?"
Who had a blind spot in this incident, and how would you define that blind spot?

2. In "9 Common Blind Spots That Plague Even the Best Leaders," leadership coach Ramona Shaw lists these blind spots that could be problems for leaders:

• Going it alone (being afraid to ask for help)

• Being insensitive [about] your behavior on others (being unaware of how you show up)

• Having an "I know" attitude (valuing being right above everything else)

• Avoiding difficult conversations (conflict avoidance)

• Blaming others or circumstances (playing the victim; refusing responsibility)

• Treating commitments casually (not honoring the other person's time, energy, resources)

• Conspiring against others (driven by a personal agenda)

• Not taking a stand (lack of commitment to a position)

• Tolerating "good enough" (low standards for performance)

Which of these resonates most with you? What can you do to address that issue productively?

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3. Review "Specks as Mirrors" by David F. Maas. What does Maas suggest we should do when we see spiritual faults in others? What did King David learn when Nathan told him a story about someone else's faults? What lesson can we learn from Maas' cat Amara? 

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4. In "Blind Spots: The Hidden Obstacles to Personal Growth," life coach Arjun Vijeth describes a tool called The Johari Window, which can help us understand blind spots:

"It is a model that consists of four quadrants representing different aspects of our self-awareness. The open quadrant represents the aspects of ourselves that we are aware of and that others are aware of as well. The hidden quadrant represents the aspects of ourselves that we are aware of but that we do not share with others. The blind quadrant represents the aspects of ourselves that others can see, but we are unaware of, and the unknown quadrant represents the aspects of ourselves that neither we nor others are aware of." 

Vijeth says one way we can discover our own blind spots is by "seeking feedback from trusted friends, family members, colleagues, or a coach … [who] can provide an objective view of our strengths and weaknesses … and help us to see things from a different angle. They can ask thought-provoking questions, challenge our assumptions, and … provide support and guidance as we work to overcome our blind spots."

Whom can you trust to provide honest and objective feedback to help you discover any blind spots you may have? How could you solicit such feedback, if you haven't already done so?

 

Responding to the News

1. You might like to try the activity "​How Do Whales See?" posted on the New Bedford Whaling Museum website, to find out what it's like to experience seeing the world the way a whale sees its environment.

2. Our blind spots do not always mean we have some hidden sin. But in this prayer, "Searchlight" (Video 3:49), Honeytree invites God to reveal blind spots in her life that could use more of God's light. You might want to use the song as you ask the Holy Spirit to help you face uncomfortable truths about yourself and areas of weakness in your life that may need attention. 

3. In "Identifying Your Blind Spots," Sheryl Jacob, a marriage and family therapist, provides a set of questions you may find useful as you think about your own blind spots.

4. In "Three Steps to Reveal Your Blind Spots," church planter and author Rick Warren suggests taking these steps to discover and deal with your own blind spots: 

Pray: "Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life" (Psalm 139:24 NLT). … ask God to remind you of what is true about him and about you. …

Ask some trusted Christian friends or family … to help you … see things in you that you can't see. … Proverbs 12:15 says, "Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others" (NLT). …

Then, ask Jesus to change you. Jesus said, "I am . . . the truth" (John 14:6 NIV). And the Bible says the truth will set you free. So the closer you are to Jesus, the more your life will be filled with the truth. That means you're going to be less vulnerable to self-deception as you walk in the light of God's truth. God's truth helps you see yourself and others as you really are.

 

Prayer suggested by Psalm 146:8; Isaiah 42:6-7; Isaiah 43:8; Psalm 139:23-24

O God who opens the eyes of the blind,
Open our eyes, that we may see ourselves the way you see us, 
Blind spots and all.
Search us, O God, and know our heart;
    test us and know our thoughts.
See if there is any wicked [Hebrew hurtful] way in us,
    and lead us in the way everlasting. Amen.