SEEING BEYOND WHAT WE SEE

Sometimes, maybe more often than not, we really do not see what we think we see. We see on the surface and no more, and then we make judgments about what we are seeing: he/she/it is beautiful, ugly, interesting, boring – the list is long and even endless. Most of the time, I dare say, we don’t even go so far as to pass any judgment. We move on in the blinking of our eyes.

Sometimes, too, we see only what we want to see, especially when the object of our attention is a person. If we like that person, we tend to see good. If we have an adverse feeling, for what ever reason we have such, we often see something less than good, even evil. We want to see good in those we love and care about and see not-so-good or even not-good in those we don’t. Human nature, perhaps, but not justifiable or acceptable for us as Christians.

Seeing beyond what we see takes effort. It often takes hard work and it takes time. It takes being open and not automatically being judgmental, either for good or for bad. One bad observation about another does not make that person bad. What we saw may only have been a bad moment or part of a bad day. We can relate. We’ve all had them. On our part we certainly do not want to be judged by another because of one bad and foolish word or action. One bad sermon does not make one a bad preacher nor does one good one make one an orator. We are judged by our body of work not by one act.

We know that. That is why it is so important to try to see beyond what we se. There is depth to everyone and everything, sometimes profound depth. We’d like to think sometimes that what we see is what we get, that there is no depth to it – to the act or to the person. But there us. Even a passing nod, a peck on the cheek, a quick handshake of greeting all have more to them that meets the eye, perhaps not a whole lot more, but more. We know that also to be true when we are nodding our head to another, giving that peck on the cheek or extending out hand in welcome.

None of this is very profound. But during these times of social distancing I am reminded how much I miss giving and receiving that peck on the cheek from a friend, that warm handshake or big bear hug, all saying more than words can say. And it is in these times we are given the opportunity to take the time to reflect on the world about us: the beauty and depth and meaning of God’s glorious creation; the importance of family and friends; the ways we can begin to mend the divisions that have been so profound and sad and still linger. The list is long.

We have been called to be a lamp of love and forgiveness to the world by the way we live our lives. To do so we have to keep our eyes open to see beyond what we think we are seeing and see what God sees and then do what we can to help others see beyond what they think they are seeing. That may not be easy for us or for them. But we must.