Give me your eyes

Rev. Jack O'Dell

In our worship at The Well, we sing a popular song by Brandon Heath entitled, “Give Me Your Eyes”. The words seem to challenge me each time I sing it. Read them (or if you know the song, sing them!)
Looked down from a broken sky
Traced out by the city lights
My world from a mile high
Best seat in the house tonight
Touched down on the cold black tile
Hold on for the sudden stop
Breath in the familiar shock
Of confusion and chaos
Are those people going somewhere?
Why have I never cared?

Chorus
Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me your heart for the once forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see
yeah .. yeah .. yeah .. yeah

Step out on a busy street
See a girl and our eyes meet
Does her best to smile at me
To hide whats underneath
There’s a man just to her right
Black suit and a bright red tie
To ashamed to tell his wife
He’s out of work
He’s buying time
Are those people going somewhere?
Why have I never cared?

I’ve been there a million times
A couple of million eyes
Just moving past me by
I swear I never thought that I was wrong
Well I want a second glance
So give me a second chance
To see the way you see the people all alone

I must confess that more times than I like to admit. I fail to really see people through the eyes of God. This failure keeps me from loving the world as God loves the world. And it keeps me from loving the world as God loves me.

The song reminds me of my sin of omission. Have you ever considered how many people you just miss each day? I am not just talking about consciously ignoring. I am talking about just missing. Maybe I am preoccupied. Maybe I am self-absorbed. But the realization to being completely oblivious to the presence of God’s children is more of my daily routine than I want.

Then there are those that I see and dismiss for one reason or another on a conscious or unconscious level. I busy myself to keep from really seeing them or knowing their name. Or in righteous judgment, I excuse my inattention or ability to extend compassion. I keep the eyes of my heart guarded.

And I lose. I lose the unique opportunity to see with the eyes of God but the opportunity to be the hands of God. Lord, this day, give me Your eyes to that I may love with Your heart while extending Your kingdom with all that I have.