My 3D Glasses View
12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. Colossians 3:12-14
Anyone who knows me knows I absolutely love Killer Whales. They are my favorite animal (next to my own dog of course) and I love the opportunity to get to see them on a regular basis at SeaWorld. I have had the amazing opportunity to interact with one whale in particular named Malia. She is my favorite. I have been able to feed her and give her behavioral commands.
So it should come as no surprise that my love for killer whales overflows into my somewhat eclectic farmhouse / coastal décor. The use of a Cricut has made it even easier to include killer whale designs in various items throughout my house. This past Christmas was a highlight as I created ornaments, stockings and buffalo plaid orca t shirts! So when SeaWorld gave us 3D glasses that turned regular Christmas lights into a snowflake of killer whales, I was ecstatic. Anyone who visited our house was able to see the beautiful snowflake orcas on my Christmas tree. However, you could only see them with the special glasses. Without the glasses on, my Christmas tree was just a plain ole simple tree.
An interesting observation I made during this season was that most people who were able to view my tree with the glasses didn’t even notice the snowflakes were orcas. They just saw a 3D snowflake on the lights. It wasn’t until we would ask, “Do you notice what the snowflakes are?” that people would see it. And even then, a couple of people didn’t see it and we had to point it out.
Focus.
The snowflakes are whales.
AHHH! The expressions on their faces were priceless.
That got me thinking about life in general. How often do we see others through our everyday lenses and not notice something deeper or more personal? We are all so busy with life that even when we see something great, we don’t notice the deeper meanings. As followers of Christ who want to help and encourage others, are we able to see when someone is hurting or in need of a hug? What about a coffee date or when someone is lonely and in need of a friend?
These past eighteen months have been really rough. We have experienced death in our family, serious health issues, a major job loss, disappointment and financial issues. Personally, I have felt very alone and not close to any friend. I don’t portray a beat up life on Facebook or open up to anyone (other than my husband) much and therefore, no one around me was able to see the days that I could’ve used a hug, a coffee date or just a couple of hours to chat with a friend.
If I’m honest, I’m mostly too busy myself to notice it in others as well.
This should not be.
This year, as we start a new year with new resolutions, I want to be purposeful in seeing other’s lives as with 3D Glasses. I want to look past the surface of the “I’m OK” answer to what is really going on. Thankfully, I don’t need special SeaWorld glasses designed with killer whale snowflakes. I have the Holy Spirit who can help guide me and help me see deeper. I need to spend more time in prayer interceding for friends, neighbors and my community. I need to spend more time in the Word seeking to understand God’s command to love my neighbor as myself; and how to make that a reality in 2018.
How can you look deeper into the lives of others around you this year?
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7
Great post! Yes, often times I think we miss things because we see what we want to see. People live in such a hurry up world that they don’t slow down long enough to see the hurt and the lost. May we all take your advice and slow down and refocus and see people as they are. ((Blessings))
Dana I love this post! Your analogy with the 3D glasses drew me in. I want to slow down and focus more on what is going on around me also. May I not see people through every day lens but look deeper…
Such a powerful reminder to look deeper in to people’s lives. I am so sorry that you have had such a rough year. May 2018 be more joyful. If you need to talk, I am just an email away. Hugs.