Life Begins With Open Eyes
by Elizabeth Varian
Life begins with open eyes.
We walk through the days with our schedules, 'to do' lists and daily routines. We feel a sense that something's not complete. When trouble arises, we murmur our way through with complaints of needing better days. When will life get better? Is this all it is? We can't seem to do anything but keep our heads above water. And one day it happens, it appears before our eyes. The sign says, "Life begins with open eyes."
What the heck does that mean? We stand confused and try to contemplate such a bazaar sign. It stands alone, plain and simple. "Our eyes are wide open," we say to ourselves. Do we open our eyes every morning to see the clock whine to another day? Don't we see the road ahead of us each day as we drive to work? Our life began, our eyes are wide open. What nerve of this oppressive sign!
Life begins with open eyes.
How can we fill this hole we feel? This emptiness of dissatisfaction. Where is our loved one once promised to us? When is it our turn for a promotion in life? Darn that sign that burns in our minds. What does it mean life begins with open eyes? Do we not see our stock plummet? Our eyes were not closed to our boss turning us out? Nor did they miss the view of the sickness in our family members' bodies. How much further can our eyes open to begin life?
"Life holds still," says the voice from above, "You shall not leave where you are with your eyes shut." We look all around to see no one and to the sky we stare with a question. "Who said that and what do you mean our eyes are shut."
"You are missing the view of a positive light. You can overcome all with a new attitude. Nothing will change as long as your eyes are shut to the opportunities and possibilities that stand in front of you. Your boss turned you out, did you see the release from a job with no future? Your stock goes down, did you not see the windfall awaiting for you after? The sickness strikes your family member, do you not see the chance to get to know them closer? Do you not see the love you can offer to them? Do you not see a chance to let faith in and to heal your life by opening your eyes?
Life begins with open eyes.
We walk through the days with our schedules, 'to do' lists and daily routines. Hey, we never noticed that tree. "Has it always been there?" we wonder. When did we get a neighbor and were there always these senses of being needed by others? How did we miss that person glancing our way? Did I miss the ocean of waves so blue and its dance up on the shore? "What peaceful delight!" we exclaim with joy. Yes, we'll take this career of our passion!
"It's true, it's true!" we shout to the skies, "Life begins with open eyes!"
