The Gaze of God

Those eyes

that stare at me so balefully

what do they see?

they are eyes that

see me through the lens

of every fear, every failure
every expectation and hope

they look at me and see me 

not as I am

but as less

and perhaps, at times

as more than I am

they see every flaw

and wrinkle

those eyes in the mirror 

can haunt me sometimes

And what about those other eyes?

The eyes that see me each day

as boss

or pastor

or friend

what do they see

do they mirror me as I am

or is that image too distorted

by their fears, or hopes or expectations?

does anyone see the real me?

 Ah yes!

there are those eyes

that see me perfectly

it is in the gaze of God

that I can find

me

 ____________________________________________________

The gaze of God receives us exactly as we are, without judgment or
distortion, subtraction or addition. Such perfect receiving is what
transforms us. Being totally received as we truly are is what we wait
and long for all of all our lives. All we can do is receive and return
the loving gaze of God every day, and afterwards we will be internally
free and deeply happy at the same time. 

                                                                          Richard Rohr