When we look somebody in the eye, we may see confidence or unease. We may fail to notice the colour of the iris. Doubtless many of us are hardly aware of the colour of our own eyes or the eyes of our acquaintances. It comes down to what is in our genes – and to melanin. Some of us have melanin in spades and in a place that makes it count. Others have less. There’s nothing we can do about it. We can’t change the colour of our eyes any more than the leopard can change his spots. Melanin is the active agent that decides these things. With plenty of melanin available we are told that our eyes will be blue for the same reason that the sky is blue. One theory is that blue eyes started with an influential gentleman in the Black Sea area.
On the whole blue is an esteemed colour. To have blue blood is to be a member of the aristocracy. To be a blue-stocking is to be an intellectually capable woman. If we’re blue in the face, we have experienced exertion or outrage. Frank Sinatra (Ol’ Blue Eyes) made a bid to take over the colour. At the other end of the colour-scheme we may have a dose of the blues or be in a blue funk.
Eye-colour is not the only physical characteristic we cannot control. Keratin is also decisive. This is the ingredient of our nails and hair that makes for toughness and bristliness in varying degrees. In animals it makes for hooves and horns. While we cannot control the nature of our hair or nails, we can alter their appearance. Female finger-mails are commonly cared for and coloured by nail-technicians. Hair can take on a surprising range of colours.
King Solomon was as susceptible as they come. With 700 wives and 300 concubines, he was always ready to add to the number. When the Queen of Sheba visited him, he bestowed on her all the treasures she desired. The religion of his lady friends was immaterial. This incurred divine disapproval.
Jesus had something to say about all this. ‘Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?’ (AV) ‘Can anxious thought add a single day to your life?’ (REB). It is noteworthy to discover that some of the things that we set great store by are of little consequence when measured by the standards of the Sermon on the Mount.
WYCLIFFE AND WHITTLE
Lutterworth, Leicestershire is known for its connection with John Wycliffe, the Bible translator, and Frank Whittle, the jet engineer. It has good mug-shots on its website of present-day church members, including the Rector, Charlie Styles.
If you have a comment on this post please send an email to Revd John King at johnc.king@talktalk.net Edited extracts may be published. To forward this to a friend click on the chain icon below.