(Seeing Through the Right Lens)
Walking down the beach with someone can be an eye-opening experience. What I see isn’t necessarily what they see—and vice versa.
They might see a piece of driftwood; I see a dragon skull.
I spot a mastodon tusk where they see a tangled tree root.
They see just a rock, but I see a troll, frozen in surprise by the morning sun.
It’s a reminder that what’s seen through the eye of the beholder may or may not reflect reality. That driftwood did look like a dragon skull, but in the end, it was just a gnarled piece of wood. What made it come alive in my imagination were the inner workings of my mind—shaped by my story, my memories, my wonder. These filters are often hidden, and sometimes even an enigma to me.
The same holds true when it comes to how we see people. We may misinterpret their words or actions based on our own past, pain, or perspective—like a camera lens with a particular tint. Years ago, I discovered polarized sunglasses. With them, colors seem more vivid, and hidden details jump out. The glare of the sun fades, and you can see deeper into the water—beyond the shimmering surface.
Our emotions and past experiences are often like that glare—bright, overwhelming, and sometimes deceptive. They can blind us to what’s really going on underneath the surface of another person’s life, or even our own. But when we choose to look through the right filter—one of compassion, patience, humility—we begin to see more clearly.
So here’s the point:
Stop judging people based on their past.
Stop seeing them only through the lens of your present pain or limited perspective.
Look at their actions—but no matter what, show love.
Because that’s what’s commanded of us in Scripture: to love, regardless. Mark 12:28-31, and Matthew 5:44, command us to love. And as you can see nobody is left out. Our friends, our neighbors, and even our enemies.
Let’s put on the right lens. Let’s see with grace.