But Yhwh said to Samuel, “Pay no attention to appearances and height; I have rejected (this one). Yhwh does not see as mortals see; mortals see only appearances but Yhwh sees into the heart.
I Samuel 16: 7, From the Inclusive Bible.
A friend of mine told a story of spending time with someone who “knew it all” and had no use for anyone else’s opinion or actions. She talks about working hard to see God in that person as she spent time with him, praying for God to reveal a side of that person that showed The Light in him. And she worked really hard at believing that person was a child of God.
It is hard sometimes to understand that God sees, not as we see, but into the heart; that God knows us and “those others,” and loves the heart of all of us. God’s plans depend on us, and on those we just can’t understand; even those we can’t stand to be around.
When our hearts -- the seat of our values and our will -- are well formed, we can see much more clearly, too. When we accept that each person is a child of the Light, and look for their Light, our eyes are open to their hearts.
God, open our hearts to see as you see; to accept ourselves and those around us as Your chosen ones; to see not just appearances, but into the heart of each of Your children. Amen.
Monica Swink
RMN Board Chair
Reconciling Ministries Network mobilizes United Methodists of all sexual orientations and gender identities to transform our Church and world into the full expression of Christ’s inclusive love.
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