Where Are Your Eyes?

I remember playing that game with my boys. Where are your eyes? Where’s your nose? Mouth? Ears? But I’m not talking about “Where are your eyes” – physically. But let’s talk about “Where are your eyes – ‘spiritually‘?”

We have to be careful what and who we watch. We all have people in our lives that we look up to, that we want to pattern our lives after. I don’t think there is anything wrong with that. Doing so can inspire us to do things we never thought we could do.

My BFF is an awesome lady, when I met her it was at a time when God knew I really needed a “girl” friend. I consider my husband my very best friend in this world but sometimes a woman needs another woman to talk to and be with. As much as I love my husband, sometimes I need my other BFF.

But as we were getting to know each other, she was running a few races and there was a part of me that really wanted to try it but never thought I could. I never considered myself a runner and thought there was no way I could ever reach a goal like that. But getting to know her, she shared what she’d learned and little by little I started doing it. Since then we have run several races together, including a couple of half-marathons. It’s an amazing feeling to cross the finish line and know that you have accomplished what you set out to do.

I would have never tried running on my own. So sometimes we can get inspiration from other people. They can push us outside our boundaries to do bigger and better things.

But on the flip side, watching others too closely can get us in a whole heap of trouble. My husband and I have counseled and talked to people who are having a hard time serving the Lord. It seems that 9 times out of 10 it’s because they have their eyes on the wrong thing. They will look at what is wrong with the church and the people instead of what is right with God. I have a Newsflash for everyone, let’s make this clear – the church people are human, just like you! We all make mistakes, we all say things that we don’t mean or maybe it comes across the wrong way and we all have bad days. I’m not making excuses but we all still need a very forgiving God.

I have been in church since I was 9 years old and I have heard all kinds of excuses for being mad at the church folks. But it all boils down to the fact that people get their eyes on the wrong thing. We need to realize that everyone of us have different backgrounds and very different pasts which means we have different struggles.

For instance, as I said before, I have been in church since I was a child. I have never tried alcohol of any kind (unless you count communion or cold medicine), seriously I have never had a drink and would not know how to begin to go into a bar and ask for one and have no desire to try it. There has only been one time in my life that the thought even crossed my mind. I was cutting through Kroger’s wine section and I had this unexplainable craving for wine. It was the strangest thing, it was like I could actually smell it through those bottles, but I was able to dismiss it quickly without any problem. But I realize that there are people that have been addicted to this and they would not be able to dismiss the idea of drinking so easily. I’ve heard of people who completely avoid that section of the store because it’s too much of a temptation. Does that make me better than them? Somehow more holy? NO! Absolutely Not! It just means our struggles our different.

One thing I struggle with is organization in my home. It is a constant battle for me that I have not been able to get a handle on up to this point. It is my New Year’s Resolution every single January (including this year). Now some may say, “well that’s not a ‘sin'” but I think it is for me. It hinders me from doing things that I want to do. I shudder at the thought of someone just dropping in for a visit. It’s one thing that my husband and I argue about (not often, but every once in a while). I believe it hinders my creativity and it keeps me from having the peace I desire in my home.

Now that person who struggles with drinking may have the perfectly cleaned & organized home. See, our struggles are different but it doesn’t make one better or more “holy” than the other. You may not understand why it’s such a struggle for me to keep my house in order and unless you’ve been there you won’t understand. Let’s not judge each other for our struggles, instead let’s encourage each other. Pray for each other that we can conquer our demons and live victoriously.

Elvis Presley sang the song “Walk a Mile in My Shoes“
If I could be you, if you could be me
For just one hour
If we could find a way to get inside
Each other’s mind
If you could see you through my eyes
Instead of your ego
I believe you’d be, I believe you’d be surprised to see
That you’ve been blind
Walk a mile in my shoes
Walk a mile in my shoes
Yeah, before you abuse, criticize, and accuse
Walk a mile in my shoes
Now there are people on reservations
And out in the ghetto
And, brother, there, but for the grace of God
Go you and I
If I only had the wings
Of a little angel
Don’t you know I’d fly to the top of a mountain
And then I’d cry, cry, cry?
Walk a mile in my shoes
Walk a mile in my shoes
Yeah, before you abuse, criticize, and accuse
Walk a mile in my shoes

Let’s get our eyes off of people and get them on Jesus. I saw a story on Facebook where a woman said she was quitting the church because of all the stuff she saw that she didn’t think was right. So the pastor told her to walk around the church three times with a full cup of water without spilling it. As she walked around the church she was so focused on not spilling the water that she didn’t see anything else. When the Pastor asked if she saw the little boy playing in the pew or the young girl on her cell phone. She said “No”. She was so focused on making sure she didn’t stumble and spill the water. It’s the same with our life. If we will keep our eyes on Jesus, we won’t see the mistakes of others. Instead we will concentrate on our own walk with the Lord.

Too many times we want to judge others, sometimes I think we do that to justify what we’re doing by what others are doing. We tell ourselves well what I’m doing isn’t as bad as this one or that one. Let’s remember that this is a personal race and to keep Heaven as our goal. By all means reach out to others, helping as you go but remember to keep our eyes on the one we are serving. I heard a preacher say one time that it doesn’t make any sense to quit serving God because people have hurt you. God didn’t do anything wrong so why blame Him? Let’s stay keep our eyes on Jesus and pray for the humans.

Leave me a comment, let me know your secret to keeping your eyes where they belong.