Seeing

When you gaze upon something so beautiful that it takes your breath away, you are in the present. It may be a stunning sunset, an extraordinary piece of art, or a baby in your arms. Your other senses are eclipsed as you fully receive what you are seeing.

All of the way into my thirties I loved the hustle bustle of city living and the colors of the urban landscape. I became aware at one point that every time I visited my mother in the suburbs of Philadelphia, I felt my eyes drink in the green of the trees, lawns and plants. It was a visceral experience.

I thought of this years later when I was teaching my second Receive course. Mary Ann, one of the participants and a nature lover, was used to noticing all of the beautiful trees and flowers when she took her dog out for their daily walk. She reported to our class, “I always took in, for example, the beauty of the flowers. But now (after learning about becoming a Receiver) I really receive them. It’s a much fuller, more receiving experience. It’s different. It’s like my appreciation is heightened and the experience is fuller.”

While it is easy to appreciate a beautiful sunset, it is also a wonderful experience to bring that same sense of awe and fullness to the regular sights of the day.

Sometimes we don’t see what is right in front of us. Today I am going to keep my eyes open and enjoy life's beauty in all of its colors, shapes and textures.