Looking Through New Eyes
During times of crisis or tragedy, something unique happens to our vision. Hard times or difficult events both tend to sharpen focus, demanding our attention. These moments, seasons or years seem to drown out superfluous noise, causing our vision to turn from those non-essentials of life to the things that matter.
I don’t enjoy tragedy or crisis and don’t relish the thought of living in these for extended periods of time. I am wired to respond by confronting these unwelcome visitors, then either trying to manage or control them. Maybe you do the same or perhaps you try to quickly remove the discomfort which accompanies heartache or hardship.
Although, tragedy and crisis are considered unwelcome guests, they have a way of giving us new eyes. We cannot avoid the realities of things such as Covid 19, a friend being diagnosed with cancer, a child or a parent dying. Terrible national events like the injustice of life and society can paralyze or minimally confuse us.
There is an inherent danger we as humans must avoid during devastating trials, the danger of apathy. Maybe the crisis passed quickly, we developed a plan for managing the situation or controlling our feelings, so now we tend to dismiss it. Or perhaps it was not our personal trial, so we time-stamped the event failing to see it through the eyes of those most effected.
Seeing tragedy and crisis through new eyes can be a positive response to a negative event but only if it engenders long-term change. After my daughter was killed, I am sure there were people who looked at it as a tragic event on a calendar because it did not affect them. Others attempted to see it through my eyes. Granted, if they had never lost a child, they could not completely relate but they tried. I believe as a result their lives were enhanced.
In recent days, we have been confronted with the injustice surrounding the life of a young man named Amaud Aubrey. As I talked with some of my brothers and sisters of color, they have helped me to see this with new eyes. It is not an event on the calendar or something to simply disgust me. If I . . . if we, are going to change, we have to see it through different eyes.
If you want to get a sobering perspective, check out my Facebook entry of May 7, 2020 where I quoted my dear friend Ade Oni.
In Romans 12:15, the Apostle Paul admonished us as believers to, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” I can’t allow myself to be numb to the pain others feel, so I am asking God to let me see as He sees. I want to see through new eyes.
