God be in mine Eyes

God be in mine eyes; and in my looking.

Our eyes have often been spoken of as the “Window to the soul”. There is real truth that they can be part of our body language, often unintentional, so that we look away - or more intently? - if we are not being entirely honest. And it is also true that a person’s eyes look the most alive aspect of us as they dart around, re-focus and engage. When others see our eyes do they perceive that we are being honest and caring when we speak of God?

The question of what our eyes look at is also very important for our own well-being and spirituality. Much of what we see is trivial, everyday stuff perhaps. Yet if God is known as with us, then there can be significance in so much, at least from time to time. The garden is not just grass and flowers but a kaleidoscope of richness, the home is the place where we retain the things which we need and items which mean the most to us. Relationships need proper attention, and we all know how wretched it would be to be taken for granted – or, perhaps worse, to treat others that way. God can be in our glances, our vision.

Most of us, especially during lockdown, spend a lot of time looking at a screen. We might be working from home, we might be seeking education or entertainment. This can be very worthwhile, provided we do not allow it to take us over. They say that some people check their mobile phones several times a minute; are they so attentive to other – often more important – things?

The hymn “O Jesus I have promised to serve thee to the end” includes the phrase ‘I see the sights that dazzle, the tempting sounds I hear’. It mystifies me how a Victorian hymn cites dazzling sights, having been composed before the invention of electric light and many more spectacular and diverting creations. Today, much more easily, we can be too distracted, through looking at the least helpful scenes, so that our minds rarely, if ever, engage with God’s loving presence.

To lift up our eyes is to look beyond the ordinary life situations, so that God is in our eyes and looking. An ever-present help in times of trouble. We don’t need to raise our head or our eyeballs, nor even have our eyes open at all, to “lift up our eyes to look to God”. We can, and it is highly recommended, raise our thoughts and vision to the awareness of the God of eternity who is so much greater than we are yet is ever with us and for us.

Psalm 121 

I will lift up my eyes unto the hills: from where does my help come?

My help comes from the Lord: the maker of heaven and earth.