The story...
A human resources guy's teaching a meeting facilitation class and I'm a student. "If you're only looking through your own eyes then you're going to get a limited picture of what's really going on. What would your third eye see from the top corner of the room?"
What's really going on in the room? We know it's impossible to truly know what's going on inside other people; yet, we can receive "tail tell" signs. What would my third eye see? The body language, nervous laughter, awkward silence, unexpected comments, beginnings of thoughts not fully expressed, inner-person conflicts working their way out... Efforts to take my eyes off me and to open my awareness more fully to the bigger picture has helped me be a better facilitator. As a facilitator, I'm more likely to "get it" and to help the group move toward fulfilling meeting goals.
These awareness skills and habits take time to develop and require maintenance too. They get rusty and need the oil can. Dorothy opens her eyes to her surroundings and discovers a person who she hadn't really noticed before - she finds out that he has "heart" issues.
People would be noticed, valued, and listened to within the only church in town. People with a loving nature would reach out to better understand the heart issues of others - the things that really matter. They'd love their neighbor as themselves. They'd aspire to love others as Christ loved because the Spirit of God indwells those who are His.
Just for today...
"I am introspective when I turn my spiritual energy inward to observe my actions, character, motives, and reactions. The ensuing awareness helps me see behavior patterns that hold me back from being the person I want to be." Hope for Today (p. 116)
