Time for an Eye Exam and a Heart Check-Up?

Have you ever gotten a little speck or an eyelash in your eye and it was so painful until you managed to get it removed. Even though we know we shouldn’t rub our eye to try to remove it, we can’t help ourselves and, oftentimes, we just makes the matter worse.

What about those conversations we have with someone and that conversation goes awry. It becomes negative and we are mutually complaining and becoming angry about something or someone….. and just as naturally as rubbing our eye when we get a speck in it, we chime in and the conversation just goes SOUTH. We don’t help to deter the conversation to a more positive place. We just add to the brewing animosity. We just helped make the matter worse.

Maybe it’s time for an “eye” exam and a “heart” check-up so that our eyes will be clearer and our hearts will be softer and more understanding. Rather than “seeing” the worst in someone and “feeling” animosity toward them, we can purpose to have our Father’s eyes and heart – that sees the best in others, regardless of whether or not they are exuding “their worst”. Rather than taking on an attitude of blame or misunderstanding, just maybe we’ll start approaching our brothers and sisters with kindness, love and better understanding of the struggles they may be going through. What if that cashier who was cranky or grumpy, just received a notice that her house was being foreclosed on? What if that car driver who was speeding past you, was rushing to get to a family member that had been in an accident? What if that young person who was so disrespectful, was abandoned by his family?

Matthew 7:5 says “Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.”

What do our eyes see? And what does our heart feel? Anxiety or peace? Envy or encouragement? Doubt or optimism? Anger or love? Wherever WE are at can be places where love is lived, where people sense God’s peace and acceptance. It may sound simplistic, but it is still true: our calm, peaceful, and loving presence can be infectious.

What if we had our Father’s eyes -- eyes that find the good in things, when good is not around. Eyes that find the source of help, when help just can't be found. Eyes full of compassion, seeing every pain. Knowing what others are going through and feeling it the same. Just like our Father’s eyes. (Thank you, Amy Grant, for those words!)

Yes, it just may be time for an Eye Exam and a Heart Check-Up!

Perspective: It's the Way SEE Things

Day 302 of Photo Inspirations -- Perspective: It's the Way We SEE Things
I'm not posting this as yet another selfie, but I was inspired for the eye glasses clerk to take my photo because I had a "photo inspiration" moment.  While my eyes were dilated from my eye exam, I had about 20 minutes to kill before the optometrist could examine my eyes.  I went next door to check out the new glasses they had in the store.  Sure enough, I found a pair that I really liked.  They had a little rhinestone bling on the sides that really attracted me.  I had the clerk to hold them for me.

I went back to the optometrist and found out that my eyesight had not changed.(Thanks be to God.) My eyes were good and I didn't need to get new glasses.  I said to the eye doctor:   "I really liked some cute glasses I saw next door, but I guess I don't need them."   And the eye doctor replied:  "Let me change your PERSPECTIVE. Ladies spend a lot of money on shoes or purses or clothes that they wear just every now and then, but you wear your glasses everyday.  Why wouldn't you want a pair that you'd really like to be wearing?  Sweet music to my ears.  I got a new perspective.  I'm wearing those stylin' glasses in this photo.

How many times do we have a "less is best" mentality and miss out on some of the BEST things. Another example is buying an extended warranty on a new appliance.  I bought a new refrigerator 4 years ago and though I didn't want to pay the extra $129.95 for an extended 5-year warranty on it.....I did.  Just yesterday, I walked into my kitchen and there was water all over my kitchen floor (from the ice holder that had defrosted) because my refrigerator stopped working.  That $129.95 was the best investment for my future.

Honestly, some of our perceptions and perspectives really block clear vision.  Not long ago, a man at a metro station in Washington DC started to play the violin.  He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes.  During that time, thousands of people went through the station. The first person who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother pushed him along and the child continued to walk turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. In the 45 minutes the musician played, only the children, it seemed, wanted to stop and listen.  When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it.  No one applauded, nor was there any recognition. No one knew it, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world.  He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars. Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston and the seats averaged $100.00.

Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment. Because he was playing in a subway station, people assumed he was a street musician playing for handouts and paid no attention to his music. They saw and heard what they expected to see and hear from a street musician. Thumbs up to the children who had the awareness they were listening to extraordinary music.

What perspectives could be keeping us from the joys of life that make us feel better, experience less stress and panic, and cause us to be aware of the beautiful music that is playing all around us?   When we change our perspective.....we might just be changing our life!