Perception (Luke 11: 34)
“Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness.”
When we look out at the world, we take in information without even thinking about it. In a millisecond, our minds sort, distinguish, and file stimulation into an attitude which we carry into our day. Our predispositions influence this process. Those things which we accept as foundational caste there hew across our landscape. Without thinking, we form an opinion which sways our perception. Learned experience is a part of this whether accurate or not. Our dreams, desires, and goals also play their part. Over time, as we get older, failures and familiar roadblocks temper our expectations. If we are not careful, our disposition may take on a certain negative feel. In this way, the eye is the lamp of the soul. What we perceive reflects our inner state.
We are responsible for our attitudes, so be mindful of your perceptions. Pay no attention to the persistent lies that the adversary speaks. Carefully develop within yourself God’s truth, which he is placing in your heart. Practice his imperatives, letting fresh light transform what you see.
When you step out in the morning, in your approach, do you see a long list of heavy obligations, or opportunities for love? Are you drearily going through the motions with no sense of the bigger picture which, in reality, is full of hope? In your encounters, are preconceived notions creating self-fulfilling prophecies? Is your world dull and predictable, stifling any possibility for growth?
It even goes deeper reflecting who we have become. Our judgments, prejudices, and concerns for worldly objects reveal a need to go to the eye doctor. It may be helpful to realize that, in our days, we don’t experience preconceived stereotypes, but vibrant and fluid individuals. Each person that we meet is unique and valuable. With this in mind, our interactions become vital and alive. The moment appears fresh, never to be experienced in quite the same way again.
We are guaranteed nothing except salvation. Tomorrow is not a done deal. So, learn a lesson from children who take nothing for granted, who live in the moment, who are filled with wonder and awe. Be humble like a child, appreciating God’s many blessings, recognizing that the people that we experience are not dispensable. We will never be “here” again. Each moment is brimming with pleasures. Each encounter is imbued with hope and promise.
As a contrast, here is an exercise for you. Look out your living room window like you have thousands of times before. What mood takes over? What do you perceive? Is it ordinary, even dry or dismal? Do habitual thoughts about regret take hold limiting your future? Does the outside world seem scary causing fear or anxiety? Do you doubt your capabilities with the nagging suspicion that it all ends in misery, so why try anyway? These, and more, are the common obstacles hidden in people’s mindsets. Fear, doubt, and shame peak through the lens of our existence revealing flaws in our hearts which affect the horizon at which we stare. Our insides form what we see, and expectations cloud an otherwise positive reality.
Deeper still, established attitudes of sin cause blurred vision. For example, a greedy person sees territories of conquest, and a covetous person sees an environment to exploit. Be mindful of your tendencies and you just might learn a bunch. Self-examination is useful, especially when we consider God’s perfect perspective. We can be better through prayer and practice. Joy and vitality await those who get their vision fixed.
Let God help you see clearly. A healthy attitude and better relationships are in store. Let him speak truth into your life, and respond with gratitude. When you do, you will feel deeply satisfied. Fruitfulness is the goal, and growing in love. In the end, this glorifies God and attracts people.