Do You See What I See?

I see hundreds of people, all crushed and pressed together as they roam the mall like madmen, searching for the latest gadget, latest fashion accessory, latest item that will just accumulate into that insurmountable red lettered debt they already owe Discovery. I see a sea of diverse people in the grocery store loading their carts with fat and sugar saturated foods. I see coupons and food stamps, and still not enough money to pay. I see people too rich for bank accounts. I see people so poor they cannot afford their own address. I see gold placed around someone’s neck, inside their mouth and on their ears and people dying who mined it.

I see lost looks as they scramble to and fro but get nowhere. I see wandering children, rebellious teens, and angry adults. I see them all and they don’t see me. They don’t see me because they wear their Rolex watches and are pressed for time.

I see them rush back and forth, piling in their cars only to emerge several minutes later, thankful they have survived the rush hour and all other horrific events the day held for them. I see new drivers itch to drag race. I see a child crying, a mother on the phone, a dad pounding the steering wheel. I see mothers become motherless as a motherless woman kidnaps children. I see fathers neglect their household. I see broken homes and broken families. I see people everywhere.

I see kids shuffling on the sidewalk. I see a man walking up and down the median holding a sign that states he lives in his car and is so hungry. I see a woman walking her dog and leaving the mess behind for the next poor soul to step in. I see a sky full of snow and rain and all sorts of natural disasters, and I see the earth full of people worrying about global warming.

I see the breaking news that takes lives. I see the reality shows that break lives. I see people not satisfied with stopping at abortion so they provide ways for euthanasia with no consequences. I see fighting and bruises and blood. I see people kill for pleasure. I see people kill for a penny. I see people wrongly accused. I see people escape from prison only to build a prison of their own. I see hospitals that refuse patients. I see airplanes that cannot fly. I see sinking boats and water engulfed houses.

I see people addicted to plastic surgery. I see women obsessed with their looks. I see people judging a person by outward appearances. i see less clothes on people and more on the shelves. I see little girls dabbling in makeup. I see a world defined by beauty. I see people that hate ugliness and fatness. I see people who love and make ugly things and being phat.

I see more dog food than baby food in the stores. I see underweight and malnourished bodies. I see people filing in long lines for all you can eat buffets. I see people more concerned about homeless dogs than homeless and parentless kids. I see numbers, not names. I see humanity as a statistic that is just another guinea pig for near and distant future experiments.

I see schools full of bombs, not books. I see a library full of noise. I see food, beverages, video games and movies but a love for books I see is missing. I see children with square eyes from sitting too close to their TV or computer. I see sports that suck the joy out of the game. I see a country that steals your dreams. I see the water deprived countries.

I see everybody hooked up to the internet. I see people from young to old talking on their cell phones. I see everybody's ears plugged in. I see bluetooths as man's best friend. I see everyone living in cyber space.

I see godless churches, and hell oriented movies. I see preachers fighting their congregation from their pulpits, and religion promoting sin. I see Hollywood stars reflecting poor role model skills. I see broken dreams and endless goals. I see Christmas as a curse word. I see words become meaningless. I see people fall out of love faster than they have fallen in love. I see vows, and promises broken every day, every minute.

I see fire not just coming out of chimneys. I see firefighters commit arson. I see corrupt police officers and shows all about them. I see a failing government and citizens failing to hold the government up. I see a society full of lies. I see hatred a driving force. I see people killed in car accidents. I don’t see life sometimes. I see chaos. I see technology overtaking the world. I see people disrespecting everyone. I see racism. I see bigotry. I see prejudice. I see pride. I see no sense, not sensibilities.

I see a sex saturated generation. I see a drug induced culture. I see a man eat man world, where no one cares who is eliminated just so he or she can rise to the top. I see less hope but more avenues. I see mercy as only a part of the name of a band. I see grace only as the name of a girl. I see glory as only a patch on generic faded jeans. I see inventions that are pointless. I see pointers accusing peoples. I see mockery. I see debauchery. I see evil prevalent in every step of every life.

And then I see a mirror. I see myself in the mirror and I see so much baggage, so much sin, so much wrongdoing. I see what I want to be, but can’t. I see what others have tried to make me be. I see what others expect of me. I see my mother and my father in me. I see my life going nowhere. I see myself going everywhere. I see my life out of nowhere. I see my heart on my sleeve. I see my eyes develop tears. I see my face full of sorrow. I see my lips try to smile. I see what I could have been, if only I did see this before. I see what I am, and that is part of the endangered species of humanity. I see this and see this everyday in myself and in others.

For I see people but I cannot see one person as I have become jaded as the rest of the world. I see a mass, sea, accumulation, gathering, throng of people but I am caught up in all the hustle and bustle I don’t see the hurt. I see symptoms, not diseases. I see passengers but not people. And I realize that this is the problem with the eyesight of today.

Nobody sees other people. It’s rare to see people let their neighbor borrow a cup of sugar, or offer to mow the elderly person’s lawn. Nobody does anything for the good of the other person. Everything is done for the benefit of themselves. Myself included. Nobody does anything from the good of their heart or for altruistic reasons. Greed and money drive them. Sex ignites them and they will stop at nothing. Nothing, not even the hurt people I see, because until you are that hurt person you force yourself to deny everything except what you want. And I see all this as a sign that the human race as it once was has become an endangered species.

Love, respect, dignity; where has it gone? They are an endangered species. Marriage, mothers, fathers, obedient children; where have they gone? They are an endangered species. Purity, honor, trust; where has it gone? They are an endangered species. The belief in God. An endangered species.

And how can we get them back? How can we reach out when we don’t even know what that means anymore? Slowly I see things work out. I see myself reaching out to these endangered species as I too am one of them. I take someone’s hand to help them out of this pit, and they in turn grab the next hand, and this line continues on as such. I see this in my mind and I wonder is there time enough left to put this act of love into motion?

The way it used to be, the genuine love for a complete stranger just because they have a soul, those days are gone…or are they? The human species as it once was, as our ancestors and forefathers saw it, it is an endangered species, and on the brink of becoming extinct. So these words of mine are an extension of my arm. It is a look into the window of my soul; my eyes.

I have shown you what I see, and I wonder…..DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE? 

In conclusion I leave you with this song that has touched my heart and challenged me emotionally, physically, spiritually and mentally. The song is more than a song of pretty lyrics and background music. It is a prayer that crosses my lips daily and goes straight to God's ears.

I need His eyes, to see deeper than the outward appearances. I need His eyes to be able to love what I deem the unloveable. I need His eyes to love myself at times, and I need His eyes to see His world....

Because is there one person you can name whose eyes you can look into that does not have a soul?

And so I pray as Brandon Heath sings and demonstrates so perfectly, Lord, give me Your eyes....

Look down from a broken sky

Traced out by the city lights

My world from a mile high

Best seat in the house tonight

Touch down on the cold black top

Hold on for the sudden stop

Breath in the familiar shock

Of confusion and chaos

All those people going somewhere

Why have I never cared

(Chorus)

Give me your eyes for just one second

Give me your eyes so I can see

Everything that I keep missing

Give me your love for humanity

Give me your arms for the broken hearted

The ones that are far beyond my reach

Give me your heart for the ones forgotten

Give me your eyes so I can see

Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah

Step out on a busy street

See a girl and our eyes meet

Does her best to smile at me

To hide what's underneath

There's a man just to her right

Black suit and a bright red tie

Too ashamed to tell his wife

He's out of work, He's buying time

All those people going somewhere

Why have I never cared

(Chorus)

Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah

I've been here a million times

A couple of million eyes

Just move and pass me by

I swear I never thought that I was wrong

Well I want a second glance

So give me a second chance

To see you the way you've seen the people all along

(Chorus 2x)

Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah

Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah