Did you know eyes are the window to the soul? I know, right? So cliche! But it’s sooo true!
As I sat in the air conditioned ball room/ conference room of the nice hotel we stayed at for launch, myself and 180 other people all did an activity that was really valuable. We were going to pair up with someone we didn’t know very well and look them in the eyes for three minutes. This was really uncomfortable. Actually, let me rephrase that, it was down right scary. I wouldn’t say on a daily basis that I avoid eye contact but I hardly initiate it either.
So for three minutes I stared into the eyes of 3 different people I hardly knew. We weren’t supposed to look elsewhere so because everyone was so nervous there was little bursts of giggles here and there. It was awkward. It was beautiful. It was embarrassing. It was difficult. It was fun. All at the same time.
As I sit here eating noodles, beef, cheese, and corn flakes all in the same bowl (world race meal at its finest), I reflected on this activity with some squad mates. They also felt that this was an extremely intimate activity.
In those three minutes it wasn’t just looking into a pair of eyes. I really did feel like I was looking into their soul. I felt like I could see them. I felt like they were so vulnerable. I felt like they could really see me. And I felt like I was seeing them completely different that I had before. I slowly felt like nobody else was in the room except for myself and the other person looking into my eyes. It was as if time had stopped and everything was put on hold. Only focusing on one person at a time trying to not let other thoughts enter your mind, it’s hard. Trying also to focus on what God was speaking to you about that person.
I haven’t had the chance to dig deeper into this with the people I was paired with but I wonder if they feel in the slightest bit like I do about that activity, that it was vulnerable and that they were seeing more than a pair of hazel eyes glaring back at them.
Perhaps I’m looking into this more than I should be. But I love getting to the core of this exercise. I would love to get a cup of coffee with them and talk about deep soul-esque things like testimonies, God, love, mission work, etc. I love getting to know people. I want to know where these people’s roots are planted. I want to know their heart and soul. This exercise wasn’t just a 3 minute glance, it was a glimpse into their soul. It was intimate. It was pure. It was beautiful.
These people are more than who I just wake up in the morning to. They are more than the people I sleep under the same roof with. They are more than the pair of eyes and more than a beating heart. They are more than a piece of flesh that just walks around serving people. They are the people that have souls on fire for the Lord who go to the nations so that other people can be set alive. They are the people who make my soul come alive and set on fire.
I welcome gazing into someone’s eyes now, if only for a moment. What do you see when you look into someone’s eyes? Do you see what God is showing you? Do you see the beauty that He created? Do you see their magnificent soul glaring back into yours?
Give someone a little eye contact next time you step out, you never know what kind of soul you’ll meet!
