Heart Sight: Inner Light Revealed (Feb. 22, 2019)

As I walked down the street of a beachside city in SA; solely needing to move a car, I encountered a woman. While walking up the hilly terrain, an alley appeared. I glanced, the woman walked as though lurking towards me. I was aloneand safe; however, my desire to be alert was prevalent. Her green skirt barely dragged on the ground. She hunched, with eyes hidden. Wondering gaze cast down as she walked in desperation. Covered in beautiful coal skin matching her twisted head covering. She called out, "Madame." As we exchanged eye contact, I was unsure of how to respond. Seeking an inner peace, it seemed as though I had encountered a woman of darkness in an alley who had no smile or hope to share. After moving the car, I felt impressed to meet her. Taking a coke, I found her on the street.

"Excuse me, madame" touching her shoulder I called to her, and she turned.Looking to me with eyes of weariness her frail body was shaking. Someone had already given her a coke. "You need to eat don't you?" "Yes, she said." As she turned and walked with me sharing a bit of her situation, her tone began to change. Soon the situation emerged from a stranger exchange to a blessed interaction. She revealed a glimpse of her smile. In sharing a time of prayer, holding her precious little hands, I no longer saw a woman lurking in the alley. Squeezing my hand with the desperation of heart, this sister longed to hear and know that she was seen and known by God. Her life has purpose and God has gone before her no matter how difficult this season might be. In a new city, without community, and recently falling ill. This precious woman didn't know that morning how her day would go, and neither did I. As we parted ways she kissed my hand, and I touched her face. "It was nice to meet you, my sister." The blessing for me that moment was genuinely seeing a beloved sister of mine in the Lord. Knowing that I couldn't change her life situation wasn't a factor. This story's value has nothing to do with me, what I offered, or what this sister needed.

It has everything to do with both of us showing the love of God to each other. God's love was unveiled in her taking time to hear and see me with her heart. And by God's grace, her heart seemed touched as well to be heard and seen! This story has nothing to do with my response or perspective. It has to do with and interacting with the very heart of God between the both of us. The woman I met knew what she 'needed' and God knows who she is. As Christians are we reminding each other of the heart of God in our interactions? If we were to reveal our heart through mirrors as we encounter others, including strangers, what would be reflected? Would we echo societal judgments and criticisms? Would closed eyes ignoring the very essence and existence of a person be perceived? Would they see us belittle ourselves or hide our hearts to focus on them? Would a person see love? Even if there are unclear understandings or needs for caution, what is comprehended?

What is seen by the 'other' is not the only dimension of this story. How another sees one's self in the mirror image of your heart also reveals; how you perceive the world and how you understand or see yourself. The other side of the mirror shows the inward reflection. Truth is revealed not in occasional acts of 'service.' Truth is living love in how you choose to grow in wisdom and grace with the people and world around you. We each decide to give life or suppress it by how we allow God to rule and reign in our hearts and minds. Do you bring life in how you treat your body, and how you see yourself when no one else is around? If the love of God envelops within tensions of finding yourself and living life, then that will strongly affect who and what people see through your heart mirror when they meet you. How do you perceive the people around you, those you know and ones you meet possibly once in life and never again?

1 Corinthians 10:17 "Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread."

Love in such a way that honors the fact that all humans are designed to be part of one Body even if they choose otherwise. As the one Body, we are, we partake in one bread. May we truly hear, see and love one another in this accord.

1 Corinthians 10: 31 "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

It is all for the Glory of the Lord, through the grace and working of Christ and Holy Spirit.

I am thankful for meeting a precious sister, through her heart mirror I saw:- Love and hope that began as deferred, ready to spill out of her very eyes and soul.- A sweetness that could find gems in life and cling to peace- A woman who was not distracted by the things of the world, one who could cut right through with the ability to see and hear my heart.- A beloved human being that was embraced by the Lord for even just a few moments.

Her embrace and eyes showed how the Lord can touch the very beating heart of humankind right where we are, at any time.Thank you, sister, for sharing the heart of God.

The perspective to serve is fine, yet there is a deeper element here. Let us not miss the Lord in our very heart interactions with one another. How we allow God to invade and transform our heart and minds affects us and those we meet every day. Truth, a living love. Not something to put on and take off when convenient. May we be able to hear and see as this sister shows us, living through the heart!