The Gaze of God

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 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

I hear it every day

I am no good
I am not enough
I am a mistake
I am a waste of space
I am using up valuable air

So people people look in the mirror
and despise what they see
They look and they see sin
They see the hurt they have caused
Their mental illness
Their addiction

They hear the voices of parents
husbands, wives, and children
Perhaps even pastors

Who affirm
confirm
their belief that they are bad
nothing
less than nothing
an object of derision

turn or burn!
can't turn?
God will take care of you
and I don't mean that in a nice way!

You should have could have
Why didn't you?
Why did you?

Trash
Sinner
Bad

But  the gaze of God 
receives us exactly as we are, 
without judgment or distortion, 
subtraction or addition.

When we look at ourselves through the eyes of God
it is a different story
Yes, we see it all

The good the bad and the ugly
But.....
we see ourselves with the eyes of love

God sees us as we are
and still loves us
still sees us as his beloved children

Have you ever wanted to believe that you
could be seen as you really are, and still be loved?
 
This is the greatest gift of all
This is what sets us free