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Today's
Meditation:
Can we
change our perception of the world simply by changing our
hearts? Can we really see the world as much more
beautiful and much more interesting and much more
fascinating simply by looking at it with love in our
hearts rather than judgment, scorn, or criticism?
There's a lot to be said for having a critical eye, but
does that perspective help us to see just how amazing our
world is and just how beautiful it is? Generally
not. But when we look with the eyes of love, we see
what's lovable, and what's most in need of love.
Our
perception is a huge part of what makes the world the way
it is. I'm reminded of the story of the man who had
an axe stolen from him, and he was sure that a neighbor
boy had taken it. Every time he saw that boy, he saw
a thief, until the day that he found his axe in his tool
shed, misplaced. From that moment on, when he saw
the boy, he saw only a little boy.
It's
a wonderful story that helps us to keep in mind that our
own thoughts and perspective shade the world that we
see. They act as a kind of filter that makes us see
things only in the ways that we're willing and able to see
them. A beautiful sunset on a day when we feel good
is beautiful indeed; a beautiful sunset on a day when a
loved one has died doesn't hold nearly the same splendor
(unless we connect it with the loved one, of
course). And our perspective is strongly affected by
love-- by the willingness and ability to see things through
the lens of love.
I
want to do my best to see the world through love, though I
often see it through the eyes of fear or tension or regret
or even stress. These negative feelings keep me from
seeing the beauty and wonder of the world, and that's a
shame. My goal is to keep these feelings from
affecting the ways I see things, and though I often don't
accomplish that goal, it's definitely a worthy goal to
keep shooting for.
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