I read a great quote this morning from a lady named Anais Nin, a Cuban-French author and actor, and it got me thinking. Here it is: “We don’t see things as they are, we see things as we are.” This is so true. All of our lives we view reality through the lens of our experience, education and culture. We see nothing apart from our culturally shaped world-view.
My question is this: If you do not see things as they are, but only see things as you are, then who are you? I know that sounds like a bunch of existential hulabaloo, but really….. who are you? What are you seeing that reveals who you are?
When you look at the poor, what do you see? When you look at human beings inflicted with HIV/AIDS, what do you see? When you see people who are victims of injustice, what do you see? When you see people who are homeless, what do you see? When you see people who are being abused, what do you see?
Do you see the world around you as Jesus saw it?….. as Jesus sees it? Do interactions with hurting, inflicted people leave you numb or somehow deeply moved to do something? Jesus’ heart was pretty transparent on these matters. Take a look at how John understood the heart of Jesus. 1 John 3:16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” You can’t be much clearer than that. When Jesus saw those around him in need, he was compelled to help them. I bring them up because so often I walk by those who are hurting, those who are abused, those who are under great injustice and I simply do not see them as Jesus does. How about you?
How you see the world is reflected by who you are. What we do with what we see is a reflection of who Christ is in us. What are you doing with what you are seeing? Who are you?
