The past couple of weeks we have been back in school after 5 months of being separated.
Things are different than they were March 13th.
A few items:
- Each morning we “log” any symptoms and enter with a green check.
- My classroom set-up is “spread” out for us to be socially distanced.
- The greeting into the class is with a squirt of sanitizer.
- The end of class is spent cleaning so the next group can come in with germs limited.
- And a lot of the time we are wearing masks.
Some of the time (okay–maybe a lot of the time) masks are uncomfortable. I live in the South. It is hot…and although we have air conditioning, sometimes it just can’t keep up with the heat and humidity from the outside.
Sometimes the masks make it hard to hear and communicate with our voices. It can be muffled, and for those quiet students, you have to be “in-tune” and maybe ask for them to repeat something a couple of times. We are having to hit the “repeat” button quite a bit :).
And while many of us are accustomed to wearing “fake” masks, wearing an actual one forces you to look at the eyes. What I have found the past few weeks: those eyes cannot lie.
If you truly intently look at someone’s eyes, they speak. You can change your voice, you can plaster a smile on your face, and you can even change your body language.
But….those eyes cannot lie.
When joy is seeping through your veins, your eyes look alive. They have a glimmer and reflect energy and life. It is easier to make eye contact for a longer period of time.
When someone is struggling, you know. They look sullen and many times someone looks away.
In John 4:7-42, a Samaritan woman comes to draw water at NOON. Coming this time of day probably said a lot–she was trying to avoid people. Imagine what her eyes looked like though–eyes that had no hope. Eyes that displayed hurt. Eyes that had regret.
Jesus didn’t allow the barriers of the time to stop him from engaging in conversation. Instead, he reached out and asked for a drink.
He didn’t allow her to feel rejected or ridiculed. He took advantage of the opportunity. Imagine the change in her eyes as she walked away from the well after her encounter with Him.
You may be that person who helps them to “fix their eyes on Jesus”…(Hebrews 12:1-2) Will it take you getting out of your comfort zone? Yes. But think more about the opportunity to point them to the peace found in the one who overcame the world. (John 16:33).
A quote by one of the first trainings we had when we returned back has stuck with me. The leader of our training made the comment: “Instead of wondering what is wrong with someone, wonder what happened to that person.”
We are all God’s handiwork–you may be that person that helps lead them to restoration by the Master Artist.
Lee Ann wrote the other day for our FACEBOOK page. It is TOO good not to revisit…
“The strongest shells often have the softest hearts. Sweet friends, look into those eyes above the masks. What are they whispering to you? Being strong does not always mean everything is great…it simply means a way has been found to get through the moments. Pay attention…look into those eyes…what are they whispering?”
Pray for opportunities. Look into the eyes above the mask. See what the eyes are saying. Be the one that points them to Jesus.
Anchored to Him,
Leigh Ann
