He
wanders around the residence all day wearing a blank gaze. A familiar face may
bring comments on the temperature or time. An unfamiliar one often generates an
effusive greeting and launch into a
narrative that’s threadbare from constant re-telling.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A
well-dressed woman strides into the room and dominates by her mere presence.
Self-focused, she smoothly greets others, and in conversations, easily directs
them to topics that relate to her and her interests.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The
2-year old rattles the grocery cart and screams unceasingly while the
frustrated father struggles for an elusive way to calm the child. All-knowing
shoppers look on, some critical, others sympathetic, but all hoping for quick
quiet.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dusk
is slipping into night, and a rumpled figure sits curled up near the sidewalk
heating grate. Now and then
passersby may give a disapproving
or pitying look. Others don't seem to notice at all.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Other
common experiences cross our path: obnoxious relatives, complaining co-workers,
constant talkers, nosey neighbors, weak politicians, inconsiderate drivers,
etc., etc., etc.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now
a question: Have you ever spotted the face of Christ in any scenario like one
of the above? Have you ever become conscious of a missed opportunity? We humans
have a well-ingrained habit of looking without seeing and judging without
understanding. If we try to see with the
eyes of God, once in a while we may see the face of Christ or sense the
presence of the Spirit hiding behind and within human frailty. As St. James reminds us: "...it was
those who were poor…that God chose, to be rich in faith and be heirs to the
kingdom… "(Jas 2:5-6)
Maybe
in this week of All Saints and All Souls Days we could pray for clearer vision
and greater sensitivity to all the saints among us. After all, St. Paul
Sr. Colleen Winston, OSB
thank you very much for these well-written poetic pieces which call on me to think unselfishly. Seeing Jesus Christ where we do not expect or imagine him is a gift - we must be able to think beyond the surfaces & reach to the deepest truth of the Father shown by Jesus. The sufferer was once an infant, and so was I. I was reminded of compassionate verses in the OT about the treatment of animals, and I remember the guide dogs that help the blind, how should we think of them? They show such joy and love and they can also suffer. God bless OSB amen
ReplyDeleteSr. Colleen, You still write as beautifully and meaningfully as ever! This blog is a much-needed reminder to all of us to strive to look at others with "the eyes of God." Thanks so much.
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