One of my favorite things to do for the holidays is stroll the streets and people watch. Whether walking 5th Avenue in New York or the Promenades of Los Angeles, I always enjoy watching kids laughing and people smiling. Dare I say it, people appear friendlier, sweeter, and open. Yet, as we are still on COVID-19, Delta Variant and now Omicron virus patrol (not to mention flu watch), everyone is out and about cautiously decked behind masks, as festive as they can be.
So instead of watching smiles, I am forced to set my gaze upon the eyes that appear over the face covering. I am trying to discover the holiday joy which emanates from their eyes. Sadly, I’m noticing gloom and melancholy. More now than ever, I am concerned that our circumstances, in many cases life-changing, have profoundly left an indelible mark on how we project the joy within. Joy is defined as an element of being – whether of good pleasure and happiness that is dependent on who Jesus is rather than on who we are or what is happening around us. Joy comes from the Holy Spirit, abiding in God’s presence and from hope in His word. I wonder as we celebrate the coming Christmas day, if we can stop long enough to see the soul of who Christ is and how He may radiate through our eyes. Seems the joy is gone. Let’s work together to build up the joy within and set our eyes to sparkle.
I desire to see the soul of people through their eyes as Shakespeare scribed in King Richard III.
Eyes are the windows to the soul.
William Shakespeare, King Richard III
The eye is the jewel of the body.
Henry David Thoreau
Thoreau’s quotation has a special ring to it because it speaks to the sparkle of eye contact. Eye to eye contact, while essential in our means of communication, tends to be a struggle for most. We tend to struggle with direct eye contact when dealing with doctors or authority figures. While much of our human interaction is non-verbal; eye contact is a major medium in how we communicate and connect. Eye contact reveals emotions, attitudes, and thoughts.
I learned recently that babies respond to direct eye contact. Babies recognize facial features almost immediately because they study the adult looking at them. Babies become instantly at ease when they see the sparkle in their mommy’s eyes or the smile in daddy’s face. Again, direct eye contact open the windows for connection between parents and babies and it is said that this bond is eternal.
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, your eyes are windows to the live action of blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue throughout your body. An annual eye examination can reveal surprising conditions including neurological issues, cancers of blood, tissue, and skin, diabetes, coronary diseases, Lupus and Lyme diseases, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, some sexually transmitted diseases, sickle cell, autoimmune diseases, and vitamin deficiencies. Be sure to get those eye exams as another option to detect any irregularities to your overall health.
On the other hand, there is a great deal of controversy concerning the perception of direct eye contact. New York rule number one is to avoid direct eye contact with anyone on the train. On those same streets, direct eye contact can be misinterpreted as a challenge to fight. In my very Afro-Caribbean household, to catch my parents gaze was seen as disrespectful. In other scenarios, two sets of eyes meeting can be sign of attraction and love. In a professional setting, eye contact ensures there is understanding and establishes others’ place in the corporate environment. “I am listening to you” or “what you are saying matters to me” affirms our place in each other’s lives.
Then of course, there are the cases of children and adults with autism or autistic tendencies. Persons in this spectrum, avoid eye contact all together. In fact, one good indication of one with autism is their challenges with social interaction. This is very different from those children or adults who display shyness out of a sense of embarrassment. The blessing of these two cases is that with consistent and deliberate socialization tools and treatments, children and adults can grow into a more bearable phase of their social interaction.
Matthew 6:22 23 (NLT)
22 “Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light.
We understand from our science classes that when light hits the retina (a light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eye), special cells called photoreceptors turn the light into electrical signals. These electrical signals travel from the retina through the optic nerve to the brain. Then the brain turns the signals into the images you see.
In this Bible verse, Matthew uses the physical eyes to teach a lesson about spiritual sight and living. The context of the chapter involves Christ teaching on how to serve the needy and those less fortunate. When we live our lives with a spirit of goodness, serving others, extending kindness, compassion, sweetness, and thinking of others before yourself, you are exposing your spirit to a brightness that will radiate from within and particularly through your eyes. He describes the human eye as ‘the lamp of the body’. If your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light.
Think about the last time you fed the poor at the local mission, participated in a toy drive, or bought a piping hot cup of coffee for a stranger. That simple act of kindness makes you feel good. It warms you from deep within. I’ve heard it said that is better to give than to receive. It is! You are more like God when you do give selflessly, as He did. Giving warms your heart. The genuine act of giving is a light that must go somewhere, and it will emit through your eyes.
23 But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!
Equally, the opposite can have a profound effect on what our eyes radiate. If your eyes are exposed to pain, discomfort, disappointment, anger, pride, ego-driven activities, your spirit will slowly diminish its glow. Sadly, these elements will chip away at the spirit of who you are, and your eyes will tell this narrative. Frankly, I have lived a few years in my life where hurt and despair have had its way. The storms of life whether the death of loved ones, dissolved relationships, financial hardships, or some other “storm” does blow through, and it will wreak havoc across the other areas in your life including your heart and soul. But I promise you there has never been a storm that did not end. Most importantly, even a storm has a way of providing benefits to a dismal situation. Personally, I have had to find the joy despite the most painful of situations. In my case, financial debt compelled me to relearn budgeting and develop creative ways to earn extra dollars. Divorce pushed me to discover new things about myself and allow myself the time to pursue fun and exciting interests. An ignored health scare encouraged me to adapt work life balance. I am certain I am not alone, and you have had to face these types of things and more.
In Sunday school, I remember a little tune about “this little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. Let it shine. Let it shine. Let it shine”. There is truth to these words. A little light in your heart can become a roaring fire and it will certainly shine.
Perhaps before you do anything, outside of the four walls of your home, think about the people and things in your life. Consider composing a Gratitude Journal. Each morning after that first deep cleansing breath, say thank you for another day – full of grace and brand-new mercies. Life is brief but some things are everlasting. Opportunities to allow the joy of the Lord to be your strength can radiate from within. Let your light shine through your eyes. You’ll love what you see. I can’t wait to see it, too!
….now what, Linda
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now what, Linda? 