Seeing vs. SEEING

In the last few weeks I have heard two stories that were wonderfully full of grace.  However, I realized that to see the grace and appreciate the beauty and fullness of the events, you would have to have the ability to SEE.  

 

Story 1:  A recently single friend of mine had been dating this guy for about a month and felt like it was getting semi-serious.  One evening during their regular telephone call, my friend made a flippant statement that must have challenged his sensibilities.  Even though she repeatedly apologized, within days she received the “I’m too busy” break up text. 

 

 Hurt, confused and bummed, the next day she was walking into Target and “coincidentally,” followed this adorable young guy into the store.  Suddenly, he turned around and said to her, “Let me get those doors for you.”  The automatic doors of the store opened and with a laugh and a smile, they both entered the store.  Later, getting back into her car, she felt a deep sense of “I will be okay.” 

For anyone not SEEING, this is merely a coincidence.  But, how many people do you know that this has happened to?  It sure hasn’t happened to me… or anyone else I know.  Yet, the day after my friend’s break up, she has an encounter that leaves her with the powerful feeling, “I will be okay.” She received exactly what she needed at exactly the right moment. 

 Story 2:  Recently, before a visit with his Dad, my husband had a huge AHA about himself and his relationship with his Dad.  For the past 10 years, visits from my father-in-law created an anxious and stressed out household and husband.  After every visit, my husband would have a “visit hangover” wondering what the hell just happened and why he acted that way.   

 

So, I was totally surprised when I walked out of our bedroom one morning a few days before my father-in-law’s visit and was met with an elated and excited husband.  He eagerly started telling me about the huge AHA breakthrough he had the night before speaking for 20 minutes without taking a breath.  He had uncovered so much buried emotion and had finally seen himself, his childhood and his Dad clearly.  He discussed feeling like for the first time he was seeing through man eyes and not child eyes.  He felt like he had uncovered a new and previously unknown side of himself.  He expressed over and over how huge this breakthrough felt and knowing what this meant, I told him a bit of fear could settle once the excitement wore off.       

 

When he got to work that day, he checked his horoscope which said: 

 

You thought past memories were safely hidden away, but they could explode into your consciousness now, shattering your illusion of emotional detachment. Needless to say, this mental shift is disconcerting since you are much more comfortable when your rational mind is in charge. It's no use trying to put everything back as it was. Instead, be responsive to whatever happens today by openly expressing your feelings.

 

This horoscope so perfectly summed up what he had experienced for the last 24 hours that he was blown away. He emailed it to me and all I could see were the words giving him a pat on the back.  A great big “Congratulations” and “great job” and providing the reassurance that he is on the right track even though it might be uncomfortable going forward.  SEEING the fullness and beauty of this event, I cried after I read his email truly overwhelmed by the grace of the Universe.

 

These types of events are all around us yet most of us fail to see or appreciate them.  Either we are go-go-going so fast that we miss them altogether or we are so stuck in our “seeing equals reality” thinking that we limit the event to the tangible thereby failing to appreciate the fullness and grace. 

 

When we slow down, when we get out of our heads and stay in the present, when we SEE with more expansive eyes, the world looks different.   When we SEE, an event isn’t just an event.  When we SEE, a chance encounter with someone may be pointing towards a career, a new friendship or a romantic relationship.  When we SEE, we appreciate that the book we chose from our stack speaks directly to the issue we are facing.  When we SEE, the guy at Target is a delivery boy for laughter and confirmation that my friend will be alright.  When we SEE, we see the horoscope as a pat on the back validating the breakthrough and the knowledge gained.  

 

When we SEE, we can appreciate that the universe (Source, God, etc.) sends us gifts wrapped up in events.  When we SEE, we feel the Universe rooting for us, supporting us and guiding us to our fullest and best lives.  Slow down.  Soften your connection to the physical and what you see.  SEE, and be amazed at the grace and beauty present in so many simple situations and events.