Cultivating your Seeing

Have you ever seen something that impacted your life from that moment on? Most of us have, in some way or another. Maybe it was the person who'd become your spouse. Maybe it was a job that peaked your interest enough to get a degree in that field. Maybe it was an issue that needed someone to raise awareness about. Whatever it is, there are countless ways that we can see and be impacted by things.

When I read the story of the Good Samaritan, I'm struck by the repeated phrase: "when he saw him." Three men, all participants in the same situation, all saw and assessed the situation, but the outcomes are vastly different. What makes the last man different? Why did what he saw impact his life? Such a thought to be pondered upon...

In modern day America (could be any country or time period- just writing about what I am surrounded by presently) there's a lot of seeing and action that happens around me. Shopping malls are filled with people spending money. TV commercials flash such tantalizing objects round the clock. Online shops are a whole 'nother level! But each requires one to see and respond. Many choose: "Yes, I need more comfort, more things, more, more more to be happy!" Oh how hard it can be to walk away (or live with not walking away)- I speak from much experience here.

Should we even delve into the realm of online dating, social media, over eating, Netflix, or any other painful areas? Perhaps not, but the point is that we are all surrounded by people who can see and have their hearts impacted enough to act and make a life choice. Indeed, we are one!

So, when someone sees racial inequality, poverty, war killing innocent people, or a whole slew of other things that are on our very doorstep, why is there no action, not even an acknowledgement or any type of response? What is it that makes the action part of our hearts numb or even broken in this area? I think the answer is found back in our story: "and when he saw him, he had compassion."

Such an interesting word, this compassion is. We don't hear it too much in day-to-day conversation anymore. A concern for the suffering of others- how could we not want a culture centered around that? How can we not be alarmed that it is severely lacking?

Have you ever been in some sort of suffering and someone looked the other way, walked away, or even added to your despair? Words can't even depict the emotions felt in that moment, huh? Feeling that pain in this moment, can you transport yourself to the roadside of Jericho? How would it feel to be crumpled up, battered and bruised, emptied, and left for dead? Now, how would it feel to see someone pass by because they were too busy, too important, too poor, too ____ to help? You'd let me die for any one of those reasons? Are you kidding me?!

That exercise you just did, that's compassion! That's placing yourself in someone else's shoes and responding with action. Maybe you don't know how, you don't fully understand, maybe you'll make a fool of yourself, maybe, maybe, maybe... But how would you feel if your country was torn to pieces overnight and you had nowhere to go- would you really care who helped, who loved, who entered in and saved you from dying? Sure they may come across as insensitive or crazy at times, but who cares- they just saved you from dying, from being thirsty or naked, or being all alone. How would you feel if someone defended you when you were prejudge based off the color of your skin and your neighborhood?

I could list countless ways we can daily show compassion in numerous ways around our schools, neighborhoods, cities, country, and world! But we first have to cultivate our hearts to see well enough for it to produce compassion. Don't look away or walk on by- He's calling us to be brave enough to enter in. Will you today?