Hi, my friends,
It’s supposed to rain later today, so I snuck out for a morning walk. The wind had a cold bite, but the Spring sun brought warmth. Baby Magpies, still cloaked in fluffy grey feathers, warbled as they fossicked for food. Small green shoots were emerging out of a gnarled tree trunk. A school bell dinged in the distance, in dissonance to the raw caw of a black Aussie crow.
It caused me to reflect on seeing deeply, hearing sharply, paying attention with all of our senses, and how this turns us towards the God of all, sharing in what He observes.
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Monthly Musings: Seeing Deeply
Paying attention. Noticing. Seeing deeply. Hearing sharply.
There are a number of people who have recently crossed my path, people who are seeking to live at the pace of peace, the speed of joy, a little like I wrote about in my first Substack. They don’t want to just walk past this or that, but see, really see. In
, Seth Haines reflects on The Art of Becoming a Noticer, quoting a friend by writing, “People don’t slow down long enough to notice…” When his friend did slow down, did notice, he unearthed a surprising discovery., when encouraging others regarding How to Begin Writing Poetry in , shares this simple, but profound insight:Seeing the below the surface. Hmmm… yes. I try to see deeply when I take photos, capturing colour, wonder and life in multiple ways. Some of that ends up on @k.pock.pics. But how many times have I passed by and my glance has bounced off the outward veneer without pausing to see deeply? How many times has this been done to me?
I think of the faces below. What is the wisdom this Melanesian man holds? What is the future of this European couple? What is catching the eye of this Indian woman, making her eyes sparkle and her smile expand? What else does her life contain?
Pictures: Kate Pocklington
We obviously can’t be inside everyone’s story. But for those who cross our paths, how are we seeing them deeply? Hearing not just their words, but their hearts sharply? Jesus lived this out simply and consistently, with discernment. Consider His calling of Nathanael, His encounter with the Samaritan woman, the many who came to Him for one kind of healing but received another kind, the woman caught in adultery… He saw them, really saw them, really heard them. I need this reminder, especially when it is messy or demanding or costly.
I’m so grateful that God has gifted us with the Spirit of God, His signed guarantee that we belong to Him as His own, His bond that we will inherit the mixed bag of His treasured inheritance, as Ephesians 1 tells us. I appreciate Paul’s prompt in Galatians 5:25 to “follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.” The context is different, but oh, may it include seeking out the Spirit’s help to see with His eyes and hear with His ears, sharing in His observations as we live Him out.
Jesus entered into our story and He invites us to enter into the stories of those around us.
How can you and I see deeply, hear sharply as we respond to this invitation?
Book News: We have a book cover!
Even though it won’t be released until May 16th, 2024, it is incredibly exciting and very real to see a cover. (Thanks Dan, from SPCK, who designed it! He did a wonderful job.)
If you are super excited and want to pre-order, you now can (crazy, right?!). Not all the places have images yet. Hopefully soon. And more news on pre-ordering in the future, too. But for now, it’s a great way to tell these stores (and others) that you want the book. Thank you!
Australia - Koorong
UK - SPCK
USA - Barnes & Noble
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Great to see your book getting close to publishing Kate. God Bless. Bert