
I spoke to a group of Jr. High students recently, and I asked them a question. “Imagine each of you are wearing a pair of glasses with purple lenses. Looking at me, what color would I be?” It was a very enthusiastic bunch, and they yelled out, “Purple!”
But one lone ranger among them yelled, “White!” Lone Ranger got it. Looking through purple lenses doesn’t actually change the color I am; I am still Caucasian…aka Whitey McWhitey. Purple lenses only impact the perception—the experience—of the viewer and actually get in the way of seeing me as I really am.
We rarely experience a person or situation. We experience our judgment of that person or situation.
Take a look and see it for yourself in your own life. When was the last time you had an experience that didn’t include some sense of good/bad, right/wrong or should/shouldn’t? How about an experience that didn’t leave you with a conclusion about what it all must mean for yourself or others?
We have habitual ways of experiencing people and situations.
What you’re looking for has greater impact on what you see than what you’re looking at.
The real difficulty comes when you don’t know that you don’t know you’re looking through lenses. You mistake your perception for reality—for what is—when in fact it’s just your judgment of what is. It impacts the quality of your relationships. Every encounter. Every conversation. Because what you’re looking for has greater impact on what you see than what you’re looking at.
When was the last time you had an experience that didn’t include some sense of
good/bad, right/wrong or should/shouldn’t?
Got any lenses getting in the way of your marriage? Family? Friendships? Work? Are you willing to take them off? Look deeply at who is in front of you. Who do you see now? It’s amazing what you’ll notice without that log…I mean lens…getting in your way. What a gift you are in your world when you look with new eyes.
Becky
Becky, This is just what I needed to help me get through the next few days with family! Thanks so much for what you share!
Fran
Fran that’s so awesome! I look forward to hearing what you see these next few days. Merry Christmas!