Open the eyes of my heart Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see you
I want to see you – Michael W. Smith
I took journalism in high school and we were given a lot of creative freedom, but the one rule we had to follow was two sources for every fact that made the story. If we didn’t have those we were not publishing that story. No exceptions.
Sadly today, sources are unnamed and with 24 hour news there is a rush to get stories on the air, on the website or in the blog. Sources have become a minor part of each story and sometimes pictures and videos are used to make a point, not tell the story.
This weekend there was a story about some young men from a Catholic High School that had the privilege of going to Washington DC for a march. Somehow, reportedly because of their MAGA hats, they ended up on film, all in all there was a 3 ½ minute video released and a picture that had verbiage claiming white male supremacy. The world was up in arms of these young men harassing a Native American Vietnam Veteran.
The next day another video that was one hour and 46 minutes showed a more complete story of the event. Even with that complete video, there is still anger and bitterness on both sides of this story, as people see what they want to see.
I have my own opinion and shared it with a high school friend on social media who has a different opinion than mine. I started to share it with someone else with differing views, but this time I chose to stop myself. This story had been completely blown up, and once again divided our nation. Yes, our nation, everyone from bible teachers to movie stars to athletes to local friends and neighbors got in on this story.
I asked myself how we got here. I think it is because we have become people that see everything through our platform or ideology and have missed seeing it through the eyes of Jesus. I see what I perceive to be an injustice to one group and my friend from high school sees that same injustice to the opposite group. And we see this through the eyes of our own convictions.
So how would Jesus see this situation?
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35
It’s actually very simple. Love one another, not saying we love each other, not writing that we love one another. Just love each other, like Jesus loves us.
To keep You high and lifted up
Shinin’ in the light of Your glory
Pour out your power and love
As we sing holy, holy, holy – Michael W. Smith
If we want to be set apart, and respected as Jesus disciples, we have to strive toward holiness. So go ahead, love on each other with every part of your being. Not just the people who are easy to love, but especially the people that are harder to love. Because Jesus love was so big for every single one of us, He chose the cross. So yea, if I am lifting Jesus up and shining in His glory, I’m thinking I ought to be able to keep my mouth shut and my arms open twide.
