eyes to see

I have experienced some of the most authentic talks with my children while driving in the car.  There is something about fewer distractions and less eye contact that makes it a safe place to be real.  The confined space doesn’t hurt either.

I often ask questions, sometimes ridiculous ones, that get them laughing or dreaming big.  One day, the conversation with my son centered on being a ‘difference maker’, and those character qualities that can define lives with the most impact.  I asked him to tell me one main thing that might set a person apart from others in his generation, something like a good work ethic might have done in previous years.  After thinking through some ideas out loud, he settled on focus – the ability to be present, attentive, and to wisely understand what a gift you give when you look someone in the eye and have meaningful conversations, to live in a purposeful way despite distractions like social media. 

Just focused attention, he decided, could be a difference maker in his generation. 

He’s not wrong.

Some people call this “mindfulness”.  It is one of the ways Jesus showed his love to those around him and it is crucial for us if we want to do the same.  Until we become prayerfully attentive, however, we will keep looking without really seeing. 

The tricky part, however, is that we can’t really be fully present and mindful, if we are thinking about the next thing on our agenda or all the items still undone on our to-do list.  Rushing through the day will rob us of the blessings that come when we pay attention to the people God has placed right in front of us.

Honestly, this can be hard for me.  I like to get ‘er done and get on to the next thing.  I love seeing things get accomplished.  Yet, increasingly, I desire to do life in the upside down way of Christ.

Here, the last are first.  The gospels level the ground and remove the barriers.  The unclean, the outcasts and the forgotten are healed, cared for, seen. The despised tax collector becomes the honored host of the Son of God.  When others see only the past and its labels, Jesus stops, looks and sees the heart.  And, I am forever grateful that he sees us the same way. 

“She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me’”   Gen. 16:13a  

In this Genesis passage, Hagar was broken and alone.  Perhaps you have felt the same way.  Those are two things God hates and gave his life to change.   He came to be with us and to repair what is broken. 

In my own times of brokenness and hurt, my celebration and joy, I am undone by the same.  God sees me. 
 

And the longer I live, the simpler things get for me:  I want to be like Jesus.  To do so means to love those he loves, to value what he values, to see what he sees.  It is a radically different way of living that Christ modeled, but not so difficult after all. 

 

It starts with quieting our hearts and having a desire to see. 

  

Ps 46:10 says “Be still and know that I am God.”  

Dr. Les Parrott writes:

I can almost hear you asking: How in the world can I be still when life is so fast?  It’s a fair question.  God does not expect us to be contemplative monks in order to hear his voice and love like Jesus.  He merely asks that we be attuned to his presence – even in the calamity and chaos of our lives. … It means quieting our minds even in the midst of chaos, by not striving so hard.  It means putting our minds at ease and letting God be God.  It means seeing what others don’t.   (Love Like That - 5 Relationship Secrets from Jesus)

Every day we have a new chance to live with intention and to model the way of Jesus.  Pray for eyes to see and hearts of compassion.  There’s a world full of people, some right in front of us, that need us to love well and to be difference makers.

"God is working in you to help you want to do and be able to do what pleases him." Phil 2:13