What Do You See?

The heat has been persistent. Brown grass. Flowers droop. Then, a slight rumble is heard in the distance. Clouds begin to form and blacken. A breeze arrives bringing the scent of rain.

The roofer says, “Work fast, boys, we will have to stop soon and come back tomorrow.” They see the clouds promising rain as being the end of their day’s work.

The farmer looks up and sees hope of a fall harvest.

The gardener sees relief for the parched flowers.

The artist sees shades of gray, black and blue.

The child sees wonder and mystery at the changes occurring right before their eyes.

What do you see?

The person whose feelings got hurt, sees red, and boils with anger. The person delayed sees difficulty and feels anxious and irritable. But look again, look deeper, and we may find an opportunity to extend patience, kindness, generosity and forgiveness.

Carlo Carreto experienced a physician’s error, paralyzing his leg forever, but misfortune was skin deep only. He changed his career and discovered great joy and satisfaction. The mistake became seen as a blessing.

My son and family had a flat tire on vacation. An inconvenience. But then at the auto shop a woman was in dire need of funds to pay for her new tire. Cards rejected. No one to help on the other end of the phone calls. Then my son steps up and pays for her tire. You see, when she walked into the shop an hour earlier, he had immediately sensed that God might be up to something. Not inconvenience, but blessing.

One of my favorite children’s board books is “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?” In the supermarket, let’s ask ourselves, “Karen, Karen (insert your name, of course), What Do You See?” Someone to be kind to? Someone to acknowledge with a smile?

During a difficult time, when emotions are getting out of control, “Karen, Karen, What Do You See?” Someone has acted poorly. We all do at times. We do not know what caused their action, very deep down, where even they may be clueless. See with love. Remember Grace.

A prayer from John Baillie, “O eternal God, let me not go forth to my day, to my work, believing only in the world of sense, time and material things, but give me grace to understand that the world I cannot see or touch is the most real world of all.”

Dear Lord, open the eyes of our hearts: that we may see You, that we may see your intentions for situations, that we may see opportunities for grace, love, kindness, generosity and patience. May the material world and our egos never block out this vision. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.