| Benevolent Glancing - article by Joel Hempel
With the horror going on in the Middle East and other parts of the world, plus the strife in our own country with all of the partisan quarreling, and even at GLC when we disagree with one another, it occurs to me that it is the easiest thing in the world to see someone as the enemy, or at least as an anti-friend –those who think differently, act differently, look weird, and don’t share our values.
I remember standing in line at a Walgreens pharmacy, waiting my turn. At the pharmacy window was a young woman with multi-colored hair, countless tattoos, and metal decorations on her ears, nose, and eyebrow. I thought to myself, “This should be interesting!” My comment to myself was not an inward expression of graciousness but a judgmental condemnation before I even said hello. Ironically, when I did say hello, she responded with a warm smile, “How can I help you, sir?” and competence. Yes, once again, God convicted me of my sin.
Some time ago, I remember reading an article about Pope John Paul’s visit with the Buddhist Patriarch of Thailand in 1984. What caught my attention in the article was the first half-hour of their visit. During those thirty minutes, they sat in silence, not looking at each other in the eye but glancing reverently at each other, taking in the other’s personhood and praying for the wellbeing of their new friend.
There were enormous theological and cultural differences between the pope and the patriarch and much that could divide them. But what was emphasized in that meeting was their common humanity and the good they purposely saw in each other.
How did Jesus look at people who were different, people who violated God’s rule, or followers with weak faith? How did he look upon the woman at the well, the men about to stone the adulteress, or Martha after she rebuked Jesus because he did not come immediately when her brother died? What do you see in our Lord’s eyes? Think about how Jesus looked upon Peter as he denied his Lord, or Judas when he betrayed Jesus with a kiss, or the rich young man who wanted to know how to earn eternal life.
When I thought about the pope and the patriarch sitting together in silence, exchanging benevolent glances, I thought, how strange! Then I thought again. Might you and I pray to have the eyes of Jesus? Could you and I be quick to repent when we aren’t seeing others as Jesus sees them? What if when we met each other or a stranger, we glanced with appreciation and love? What if when someone walked by or drove by – especially someone rude and thoughtless – we looked at them with compassion? It might not do anything for the other person, but I wonder how God could use the experience to continue transforming us into what he needs us to be.
Love is kind . . . It does not dishonor others . . . Love never ends. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Such love is possible because God first loved us and now equips us with love that heals. | 
