What Do You See?

So what do you see? When you look at the picture to the right of this blog what do you see? Do you see a bum that needs to get a job and is just living off the goodness of others? Do you see a man that just down on his luck and with a little effort he will be able to get out of it? Do you see a man with a story that may be interesting to hear, but you would never get involved to help? Do you see a man with a story that could be yours and it moves you to compassion to really get to know him and find out what can be done to help? Which one is you? Be honest with yourself - no one knows you are reading this - so answer yourself honestly.
You see the way we answer this question, the way we see this person in this picture will let us know how much we are walking in the way of Jesus. The higher our energy level - that of love - the more likely it is that we see a man with a story that could be ours and we are moved with compassion to take action. The lower our energy level - that of worry, anger, frutration - the more likely we are to see a man that is a bum and needs to get a job. We are judgemental. Who are you in this story:

Jesus went across to Mount Olives, but he was soon back in the Temple again. Swarms of people came to him. He sat down and taught them. The religion scholars and Pharisees led in a woman who had been caught in an act of adultery. They stood her in plain sight of everyone and said, "Teacher, this woman was caught red-handed in the act of adultery. Moses, in the Law, gives orders to stone such persons. What do you say?" They were trying to trap him into saying something incriminating so they could bring charges against him.
Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger in the dirt. They kept at him, badgering him. He straightened up and said, "The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone." Bending down again, he wrote some more in the dirt.
Hearing that, they walked away, one after another, beginning with the oldest. The woman was left alone. Jesus stood up and spoke to her. "Woman, where are they? Does no one condemn you?"
"No one, Master."
"Neither do I," said Jesus. "Go on your way. From now on, don't sin."
Jesus once again addressed them: "I am the world's Light. No one who follows me stumbles around in the darkness. I provide plenty of light to live in."

John 8:1-12

So are we more like Jesus willing to show love because we understand that we all fall short and we could be there? Or are we like the religious leaders who came hoping for judgement, telling ourselves that this person is worthless and our anger and hate take over?

Today work on walking in the way of Jesus and look at others as we want others to look at us. We all want the "benefit of the doubt." We all want people to understand the "whole story" before they make a judgement about how we got to where we are. We all want grace, but are we willing to give it?

Namaste'