Daily Devotion:

Title: Look See

Date: March 19, 2013

Looking is one thing; seeing is another. To see is to perceive. To look is to turn one’s eyes in order to see. To perceive is to recognize, discern or understand.¹ One may look and not perceive. Once when I was walking knee deep in a summer meadow where there were clusters of yellow flowers in bloom, I believed that they were the ubiquitous dandelion, because I know dandelions and what they look like, and so I said to my walking partner, “Look at all the dandelions”. He stopped mid-step and questioned me, “Look at them, see them, are they dandelions?” Naturally, his action and question made me wonder why, so I looked at them. They looked like dandelions to me, and I said so. “Peter,” he said, “you are looking, but not seeing. These are yellow hawkweed and look similar to dandelions, but, as you can see, they are borne on tall, thin and very hairy stems.” I had not known of the yellow hawkweed before and now that I know what it is, when I am in the meadow, I see them. Before I knew them, when I looked in the meadow I did not see them, even though they were always there.

Where is heaven? The Teacher says many will look, but they will not see.² Why? Looking is easy. Seeing takes carrying something within you. It takes belief. 

Let’s Pray: Dear God, give us eyes to see, a heart to love, a hope to believe, and a mind to understand. Amen.

Here’s a Thought: Help my unbelief. 

Sources:

¹Definition of “see”: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/see?s=t

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/look?s=t

²Luke 8:10

Gospel of Thomas Saying 113

For a photo of yellow hawkweed, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_Hawkweed.