It really makes a difference what you choose to look for or how you see... doesn't it?
I just finished the delightful and poignant film about Fred Rogers' life, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. Apart from the fact that I probably watched every episode of this amazing show from age five years old until I was 10, (and, yes, it brought up so so many 'feels' for me) the life and way of Mr. Rogers inspired me. And, I am using that word very specifically. To inspire: spur on, motivate, quicken. It comes from the two words Latin 'into' and 'breath'. As I watched the film, I felt God breath into me fresh thoughts and fill me with more of His heart.
I walked away thinking a lot about perspective. Mr. Rogers just seemed to see life, time, circumstances, people and the world in a very distinct way. He saw differently. Yes, I was inspired. His wife is quick to point out, so it is told, that Fred was not a perfect person and that his daily Scripture reading and other habits kept him grounded.
I walked away from this film wanting to see the world like Mr. Rogers. I want to see like Fred.
Interestingly, in God's timing, my Scripture reading this morning was in Luke 6:6-11. In this story, Jesus encounters a man with a withered hand. He asks the man to stand up in the crowd... displaying to that little corner of the world... to show His love, compassion, healing miracle.
It says that the Pharisees came into the scene LOOKING for a way to catch him doing wrong. They were expecting offense.
It really makes a difference what you choose to look for... what you expect...
Jesus heals the shrivelled hand. He heals a bent, broken, withered hand and makes it whole. He does this right before their eyes...in real time! Incredible stuff, right?! Stop a moment and imagine what that might have looked like! What stunned awe you might feel as you watch this happen before your eyes. I stand amazed with the thought!
The Pharisees, though, have a very different reaction. They see as they choose to see... their eyes bent to see him doing 'wrong'. And, they react with rage. Rage! They see what they expected to see, didn't they? They see offense in his actions. They respond with disgust, vehemence and their response is not inspiration---but execution. "The begin to discuss with each other what they might do to Jesus".
Jesus does good. They see bad. Jesus heals and re-creates beauty. They respond with a desire to destroy him.
It really matters how we see. It matters what you look for...
Fred Rogers, in his 50 years of ministry on television (yes, he was literally ordained and sent to do this work...read about it!) Mr. Rogers saw every person as beautiful, worthy of love, complicated, and worth his full attention.
Yes, indeed, I want to see like Fred.
Please do yourself a big favour and take the time to watch this... The Best of Mr. Rogers
If you'd like to read 45 quotes from this man of God click here.
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Luke 6: 6 On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shrivelled. 7 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. 8 But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shrivelled hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.” So he got up and stood there. 9 Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” 10 He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was completely restored. 11 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.