Looker

Have you ever said to yourself, Boy, if only I had his looks or If only I was as pretty as she?

But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.’ - 1 Samuel 16:7

It is so easy to be deceived by what we see.

Whenever I meet someone in person, I find I have an immediate reaction to what I see and hear.  I try to be open minded, but I know I am influenced by that first impression.

Regardless of how I feel the world sees me, I tend to attribute the attributes I like in me to some of the people I meet.

The question is this.  Do I react more favorably to those who look good than those who don't?

If the person looks good, I expect him to be smart or witty, generous or kind, any and all of the things I respect and admire in myself and others.

But if the person dresses poorly and is not well groomed, it takes a little more time with him before I can see him the same way.

Appearances have a big influence on how I perceive people.  So, what do I do about it?  Do I go around blindfolded?  Do I meet people for the first time via chat or phone?

Maybe the only thing I can do is remind myself of what the Lord said to Samuel in today's reading. He tells Samuel that God sees us differently than we see ourselves.  He looks on the heart and not the outward appearance.

Can I do that?

Perhaps if I try to see God in each person, I will perceive them differently, closer to how God sees them.  And hopefully they will try to see God in me as well.

More to come...