Seeing Eye People

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Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
Philippians 2:3-4

Kym and Doug are a wonderful couple in our church who raise puppies that become trained to work with The Seeing Eye. The Seeing Eye is a global organization that has been training guide dogs to partner with visually impaired individuals for nearly a century, keeping them safe and enhancing their independence and mobility. 

So nearly every week we have furry friends in our auditorium in the beginning of a journey that will one day lead to life-changing service to blind and visually impaired folks.

I'm fascinated by the way that dogs can be trained. They can learn to stay calm in loud crowds. They can learn to pay particular attention to their handler and notice their needs, their anxieties, or their fear. They can learn to resist moving forward when they sense danger nearby, such as a car approaching. They can learn to steer gently away from barriers, and they pause at steps and curbs to alert their handler of an upcoming transition. 

A dog who would never otherwise have this capacity can become so well trained that they notice all of these things and more. They become the eyes for another, and they notice what needs to be noticed to provide care. It’s amazing. 

I think I sometimes fall into the "personality type" ditch of acting as if some people are just naturally more caring for others, and some are less, and that's the way it is. But shouldn’t we believe that humans are capable of being trained in even more profound ways than dogs can be? 

Following Jesus invites us into a shared life that is very different from the path we might take otherwise. We learn that we belong to each other, and that we have a responsibility to love and care for one another. It's no longer just about us and our needs. We have met a God of grace and love who trains us to see people not from a worldly viewpoint, but from a spiritual one. We see all people as being made in God's image. And as we experience the love of Jesus more and more, our hearts and our minds are shaped more and more to pay attention to the needs around us, and to generously use our time, our energy, and our resources to attend to those needs. 

Essentially, discipleship is the training process of becoming "Seeing Eye People." And Jesus is our trainer. 

I long to see God's church become a people who are learning how to be a calm, non-anxious presence in the world. I long to see the Church look around and notice where people have real needs, and center our time on making sure we keep people from harm. A community of disciples trained by Jesus' compassion will have eyes to see the violence and threats being carried out toward immigrants. We will step in to ensure that they could cross the street safely. We will have eyes to notice our political leaders using slurs against trans folks and call it out, speaking the truth of the value and dignity of every human life. We will have eyes to notice that many people around us are struggling financially, and quickly move to share our resources (and advocate for policies that don't just benefit the rich!). A church with eyes to see would be unafraid to speak of the hope we find in Jesus when our friends share of the despair they feel when looking at our world. 

A Body of Christ with eyes to see would make sure to notice that terrified look in a new friend's eyes when they walk through church doors for the first time, unsure if this place is safe for them or will be quick to judge. With eyes to see, we notice the risk of harm, we put ourselves in that path, and we reassure others that together, we can make it through this complicated life that's full of dangerous obstacles. We become seeing eye people. 

I'm asking Jesus today to train me to look around just a little bit more. Maybe I’ll notice a face in the crowd that looks a little overwhelmed. Maybe I’ll offer a hand or an encouragement to a friend who is feeling pretty limited lately. Maybe I’ll be more aware of all those folks who are afraid to cross the street right now because they aren’t sure it’s safe. 

I'd like to be the eyes for someone who has trouble seeing the future with any hope. I'd like to be the hands for someone who is carrying so much already that they have no more capacity. I'd like to be the feet to accompany someone who is afraid to be out on their own. That seems like the way of Jesus to me. 

And maybe, when more and more of us get trained every day, every week, every month... no one in our world will have to feel alone. 

Jesus, help me look to the interests of others today. Give me eyes to see.

Peace,
Keith