Learning To See With New Eyes

“Enjoy every step you take. If you're curious, there is always something new to be discovered in the backdrop of your daily life.” - Roy T. Bennett 

One of the great moments in the TV series Ted Lasso comes when Ted wins a game of darts against the villainous ex-owner of the soccer team Ted is coaching.  He gives a speech about how people always underestimated him, but a quote from Walt Whitman kept the doubters from getting to him.  

The quote was simply this:  "Be curious, not judgmental."  

That scene has lived rent-free in my head for a long time, and I've watched it probably ten or more times as I've reflected on it.  

Curiosity begins when we become willing to see the world differently. When we drop our judgments and jaundiced ways of seeing the world, we open ourselves up to curiosity and to wonder.  

Most of us move through life on autopilot. We make assumptions about people, situations, and even God. Over time, those assumptions become so familiar that we stop noticing them altogether. We see what we expect to see.

Yet Jesus constantly invited people to look again.

When others saw a tax collector, Jesus saw a disciple.

When others saw a blind beggar, Jesus saw a beloved child of God.

When others saw five loaves and two fish, Jesus saw abundance.

Again and again, Jesus challenged people to see beyond their assumptions.

In Mark 8, Jesus heals a blind man in stages. At first, the man sees only partially. Then gradually his vision becomes clear. The story serves as a powerful metaphor for spiritual growth. Learning to see is often a process.

Curiosity helps us remain open to that process.

It allows us to ask questions such as: What am I missing? What assumptions am I making? How might God be present in ways I have not yet considered?

One of the greatest barriers to spiritual growth is the belief that we already know everything we need to know. Curiosity keeps our hearts open. It reminds us that every person has something to teach us and every experience contains the possibility of insight.

The world is filled with opportunities for wonder if we are willing to pay attention.

The sunrise.
The laughter of children.
The resilience of those who have suffered.
The beauty of creation.
The stories of people whose lives are different from our own.

Curiosity transforms ordinary moments into opportunities for encounter.

And often, those encounters reveal God in unexpected places.

Prayer

God of revelation, open my eyes to see beyond my assumptions. Help me remain teachable, attentive, and willing to learn from the people and experiences you place before me. Amen.

Reflection Questions

1. What assumptions about God, yourself, or others might need reexamining?
2. When have you been surprised by what you discovered after looking more closely?
3. How can you practice greater attentiveness today?