"Eyes" | Reflection by Barbara Jarry

Some years ago, I worked at a Residential Treatment Center for at- risk youth. Their young lives had been marked by abandonment and abuse. In order to engage in this meaningful ministry, orientation sessions were essential.

I learned a powerful lesson about “EYES” from a presenter. She asked this question: “Who looked at you with Eyes of Love?” The next task was to write and/or draw a story about our special person. Finally, we shared our stories. The presenter then stated: “In order to work with our children, you first need to look at them with Eyes of Love. They do not know that experience.  All the tools and techniques will not make a difference, if you do not connect with them with the eyes of your heart.”

I am grateful for this presenter’s wise advice. And I am so grateful for life shared with these beautiful, vulnerable children. From them I learned that compassion and resiliency can evolve from pain and darkness, when we live in loving relationship. 

It is the Way of Jesus. The Gospels are filled with stories of Jesus meeting people not with judgement or condemnation, but with acceptance and mercy. “God who opens our eyes, gives us a way of seeing.” - Isa.  44:15, Jn. 9 

And so we pray (from “ Sounds of the Eternal,” A Celtic Psalter, J. P. Newell):

Like an infant’s open-eyed wonder

and the insights of a wise grandmother,

like a young man’s vision for justice

and the vitality that shines in a girl’s face,

like tears that flow in a friend bereaved 

and laughter in a lover’s eyes,

you have given me ways of seeing, O God,

you haven endowed me with sight like your own.

Let these be alive in me this day,

let these be alive in me.