Looking and seeing

Good morning Patrick! I have been looking at pictures of you this morning - it always cheers my days....I think about how God wants us to look upon His countenance each new day, and reflect on His goodness and be cheered. We have His words to help us see Him.

Seeing you is easy, since you are here. Still, I am reminded of a favorite play I read in high school that made me cry for 2 full days! Our Town - the story of Emily, who died and was able to see backwards in time, and discovered how very much of our life we spend looking and not really seeing...listening, and not really hearing.....going through the motions and missing the messages. I asked God to help me not to live my life like that, and to really see the people around me. He has granted that in some measure, as I am attentive to Him.

We can walk with those we love and see them, and never look beyond the images our eyes capture - how very much each of us longs to be truly seen and truly heard - the human heart seems to cry out for someone to really listen and really look...and yet, how difficult, and even painful it is sometimes to look beyond the image, and listen beyond the words. Herein is meaning - to look and see the meaning in the images, and to hear the message behind the words. I long to do that. I look forward to you growing and understanding more of life, and times when we can talk and share the things of the heart. Yesterday I thought about the wonders of simplicity which you bring to my life...today I reflect on the complexity of life - all wrapped into that wondrous simplicity - it is a web that only God could weave. And he is the One who can help us to maintain the simple wonder, and yet look to understand the complexity of the lives around us.

I don't want to have walked with people and not seen beyond images and words. As life passes, I see more the need to be in touch with the ones we find in our lives...to watch for clues in their words which alert me to what they need in their own lives that I might be able to give. To be able to look and see beyond the learned smile we all can achieve, when in truth we are crying within, is a goal of my life. And beyond that goal, to be able to give something - some word or action of eternal value that they can carry with them on the sometimes seemingly long life journey, although once we grow older, we know that in truth, life really is but a whisper. To be able to give and express love, and to mend the hearts that ache...this is a cause to live each day with a clear meaning. I pray for you Patrick, that your life will be filled with meaningful encounters, and that you grow in your ability to bring wonder to lives as you do today by your mere presence in our lives. I know you will be a light-bearer, and a joy bringer, and a man whose life will count in the lives of those around you...Thank you for reminding me of my goals, as I grow older and become weary so much more easily...I give you my torch...carry it well!! Thank you for re-lighting it when I felt too tired to keep on.