“I can see people, but they look like trees walking.” Mark 8:24

“Love can be hidden. We don’t see it unless we learn how to clean the lens.” Richard Rohr

Yesterday I was walking to have breakfast at IHOP (International House Of Pancakes) while I waited for my car to be repaired.  On the way I passed a man in a bright yellow vest picking up garbage outside of Costco.  I’d guess his age was around 65-70.  He had long flowing grey hair and a beard to match.  He had edema on his legs, causing them to look red and swollen.  I greeted him and he bid me good morning in return.  “How you doing?”, I asked. “I’m good, how about you?” he said.  “Every day God opens my eyes is a good day”, I said, to which he replied, “You got that right buddy.”

As I continued on my mission to consume pancakes, I thought about that man and pondered a number of questions concerning him such as, “What is his health really like?”, “Why is he picking up garbage?”, “Does he really believe that every day is a good day, or does he struggle each day to get out of bed?”, and others in the same vein.  And then it led me to ask myself questions, some of which I will now pose to you.

When was the last time you encountered and had an exchange with a total stranger? 

How do you perceive the world? 

How do you perceive other people?

How do you perceive yourself?

Some honest answers to these questions might be: Subjectively, Harshly, Inaccurately, Judgmentally, Lovingly, Truthfully.

The brief encounter with that man made me think of all the people I pass by every day that I never notice.  How unaware I am often-times, not only of others but myself and life events.  Frequently I feel like the blind man mentioned above, who sees trees instead of people. My lens needs cleaned, and that’s where contemplative awareness comes in.

One of the benefits of an intentional contemplative practice is that it travels with us, out of our own individual sacred space (whether a closet, cell, or nature place), and moves with us into the world.  It helps us to “clean the lens”, as Richard Rohr says in his book “Everything Belongs” and perceive things not through our own ego-centered agenda, but through love and humility–as things really are.  It is what is called the Third Eye in Hinduism.

Truth be told we are all probably a lot like the blind man who sees trees instead of people.  We live in shadows. We live like Zombies.  We see through a clouded glass, as St. Paul says. Not only do we suffer from brain fog, like someone who has dementia, but a life fog, which is promoted by the world in which we live. And unfortunately, we don’t even recognize it.

Contemplative Awareness leads us out of darkness and into light, clarifying our vision by cleaning the lens.  It changes our perspective from naval-gazing to God-gazing, from fear to love. It helps us to live more fully, more vibrantly, recognizing and embracing the moments that God brings to us.  Contemplative Awareness doesn’t remove us from the world or others, as some might think, or elevate us to a position above others or the world, but just the opposite, it brings us deeper into the world as God knows, and as God desires for us to know and experience it as well.

As I sat at IHOP my awareness switched from the man in the yellow vest to the server and to those sitting around me.  I watched as a young family with two children wrangled their little ones, and then after leaving were replaced by three older guys in motorcycle garb.  They had the dew rags on their heads, sunglasses, and the back of their black vests read “Bikers for Justice.”  I wondered what exactly that meant.  I wondered what their real lives were like. I had to check myself from making assumptions or judgments, and just contemplate the questions, foremost of which was, “How do all of these people see themselves, the world, and God.  One thing I didn’t wonder about or have to contemplate was how God sees them.  God’s lens is always cleaned, and we are all seen through pure love!