Eyes to See

One of the greatest hymns that most people know and are consistently moved by is Amazing Grace. There is a verse that moves many: “I once was lost, but now am found. T’was blind but now I see.” I think so many of us resonate with this hymn and these words in particular because it pulls for a truth deep within us that is often hard to acknowledge in our everyday lives, and yet when we do sing this verse and the tears roll down our cheeks it sets something free within us.

It is vulnerable to admit we have been lost in life. It’s vulnerable to acknowledge on any level that we’ve been blind, that we haven’t been able to see clearly aspects of our lives or even like the Pharisees clearly see what holds the potential to heals us. And, so the tears roll down our cheeks baptizing, providing a sacrament that acknowledges somewhere within us a truth that needs to be seen, honored, respected, and maybe most importantly blessed and healed by a loving God. 

It is only a loving God who can truly find us and bring us home, weaving us unlost. Only a loving God can make us unblind and give us the power to see. It’s often not as simple a formula as spit, dirt, apply, wash. And, yet showing up to the possibility of God’s healing, growing our capacity to see can be simple with God’s help. My dear friend Jehanne reminded me this week that this was a two part healing- Jesus made and applied the mud AND the man followed the instructions to go and wash. God did something; the man did something. And, something new happened. When we are committed to seeing clearly in our lives (the good and the bad, the things we want to see and the things we don’t), when we allow ourselves to truly see life on reality’s terms, something shifts. By the grace of God we are set free to live empowered by a loving God engaging with life in a way that doesn’t resist but rather harnesses the flow of the Holy Spirit in life so that we can keep doing the next right thing in peace and gratitude. 

We may not want to see COVID-19 on the news or in our communities. It may be incredibly painful to be with those who are in such a heightened state of fear and anxiety. It may be scary to go to bed at night not sure what the news will be tomorrow. And, and, and, as people of faith we are to wake up each morning and trust God is doing God’s part and we are to do ours. God does something. We do something, and something new happens. God is still making making the mud; will we allow God to place the mud on our eyes? Will we take the time to wash? What does this metaphor even look like in today’s times?

It likely looks different for everyone chooses to engage the water. For me it looks like not mistaking myself or anyone else or any situation for God. It looks like trusting God to be God, show up, and be with us in and through this messy time. It looks like making time each day to connect to that loving and gracious God through prayer and meditation. It looks like staying in prayer and meditation long enough to have some peace to offer someone else whether that be someone in my house or on the other side of the phone or Zoom. It looks like when I slip back into fear and anxiety and I loose the capacity to see God before me, I close my eyes again and breathe. It looks like intentionally opening my eyes and clearly looking for God anew and offering thanks for all the teeny tiny and big ways I can see God in my midst remembering it is vulnerable to see God at work in the midst of scary times. Being in touch with my own vulnerability or someone else’s may even make a tear roll down my cheek. 

Seeing and keeping a sense of calm is a spiritual discipline. In crazy and unusual, scary times it can be incredibly tempting to fall asleep, to give ourselves the out to not see the fears and anxiety within ourselves or those around us. By all means- take breaks, friends! Being with hard times, looking them in the eye and staying awake can be hard, hard work. So, please rest and sleep. And, come back. Re-awaken to God’s love within you and in your midst, even in these strange and unusual times, especially in these strange and unusual times. God is here. May we have eyes to see… even now… especially now. Amen. 

You can find an extended podcast episode of Eyes to See here.

You can find Mindful Morning Prayer here.

You can find Mindful Prayers @ Noonish here.

You can find Mindful Prayers @ The Close of Day here.