Eye-to-eye

Communication is often misunderstood and ineffective because effective communication can be complex. From a scientific perspective the actual words used make up only 7% of the actual communication. Volume, inflection, pitch, and pace contribute to five times the effectiveness of the words spoken. Body posture, gestures, and facial expressions make up over half of the effectiveness of our communication to others. Fewer misunderstandings and stronger trust and bonds are some of the benefits of shared physical presence when communicating with others.

We can all understand these things when we consider what it is like to talk with someone who is on their device or off in another land while we are talking with them. Even more so poor communication is an issue when we are not in the same room with the person we are communicating, texting as an example. Our conversations are certainly different and more appreciated when we can look each other in the eye while sharing with each other.

When we look deeply into the eyes of another person who is speaking to us, do we not have the sensation of briefly seeing into the soul of the other person? We can feel their emotions and passion while they are speaking. We can see the darkness of their eyes when they are experiencing some kind of pain. We can see the glistening of their eyes when they are happy or joyful. The love they are experiencing or their sadness is communicated to us more strongly through their eyes than by the words they speak.

I have read a number of books that tell stories of people helping others in need and when they look in the eyes of those in need it is as if they are looking into the eyes of Jesus. They experience a spiritual love for the other person that allows them to have a most incredible sense of Jesus presence.

When I look at a picture of Jesus praying in the garden of Gethsemane I envision Jesus eye-to-eye with God the Father in the deepest communication. We have heard His plea to the Father and yet submitting to the Father’s will. For me it is an inspiration to look at pictures of the Sacred Heart of Jesus or the Divine Mercy because in those pictures Jesus is looking at me eye-to-eye. Those pictures help me focus more deeply on the Lord and remind me that God wants my total and heartfelt conversation with Him.

We can be eye-to-eye with God when praying the Our Father, the Hail Mary, the Rosary, and the many rote prayers. They are only rote if they are simply methodically repeated. When we pray to God in any form with deep intention there is a deeper closeness He brings to us. That eye-to-eye, heart-to-heart closeness becomes a spirit-to-Spirit relationship.

I have imagined what it must have been like after God breathed life and His love into Adam. Could you imagine what Adam experienced for the first time opening his eyes and looking eye-to-eye with God?! What was God the Father experiencing at that moment? Was it like a mother looking into the eyes of her newborn child for the first time after birth? How rich!

Communication can be complex but it is so much more effective and meaningful when we communicate with each other eye-to-eye. It is not just in the delivering of our messages but also in receiving the messages from others. It is especially in receiving the messages from our Lord. But Jesus also instructs us on how to pray: “And when you pray, do not babble on like pagans, for they think that by their many words they will be heard.” Mt 6:7

As St. Teresa of Avila was known to encourage, “Pray more often and pray with greater depth.” Pray to God eye-to-eye and with awe and wonder. I believe that when we pray with God eye-to-eye we are beginning to see what others cannot see and hear what others cannot hear.

So, let us pray to God and ask, "Open my eyes Lord, help me to see your face." I pray that in doing so we may all Shine Like the Son.

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