Eyecrafters: A New Perspective in about a Minute

We see what we want to see, even when the forest is right in front of us, most of what we see are individual trees. It's not that we are totally self absorbed, but that we have been conditioned to see in this way. It's our culture to see with a narrow focus. But it's not the whole picture.

A few years ago before moving to NW Indiana, I had opportunity to spend a week in the Loop in Chicago for business. The group I was with stayed right on Michigan Ave and every evening after our days work, we set out for dinner on the streets of the city. Each evening began as a quest to fulfill our hunger, but turned into a lesson about another layer of real life in the city. We went to some of the best restaurants along side some of the most affluent people and passed many poor along the way. We pursued the upscale and had to pass by the downscale. What would provide us one meal would feed those on the outside for a week. Men in heavy woolen and worn coats asking for a bit of spare change. Women carrying bags that you just knew held everything they owned. And all they wanted was some compassion. During the day they were hidden, not because they weren't there, but because of the city moving past them. In the evening they became more visible just because the busyness had slowed. It was like watching a slow motion replay where you can see every detail and it wasn't pretty.

I learned much during that week. I learned about the company for which I worked and how better to do my job, but even more I learned to see more completely. Racing through this life with such a narrow view of the world makes us miss so much of what Christ is doing around us. So as Christians in a new year what we need to do is try on some new eyes. "Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ - that's where teh action is. See things from his perspective." (Colossians 3:2, The Message)

Today and in the days to come, look around, see more than you normally see. There's a big world out there and I believe Christ is trying to help us see it as he does. When we do, then we'll know what to do next.

Peace ><>
PC