The Windows to the Soul

Have you ever met anyone who stares right through you into your soul? I’ve been on both sides.

“Alison, don’t read my face right now.” Why did my best friend not wanting me reading her face? Because she knew that despite my low vision, I could see right through the words she was saying or NOT SAYING. She knew that I knew what she was feeling in a way that no one else did. She also needed me to know that it wasn’t the time for us to deal with that.

That’s right. I don’t see very well, but I read people excellently.

One of the greatest gifts of this friendship is the lack of judgement. She can call me and tell me something extremely hard to share because she knows she can. I feel the same way.

We can be transparent because there is no judgement.

Shared struggles and goals can do this too. One of the greatest communities I have the privilege to belong exists by phone and through social media. We may not be looking at each other, but we have built up a shared trust, intimacy, and vulnerability. We can be transparent because there is no judgement!

We are taught to look people in the eye. Ironically, we are also taught not to stare  Looking people in the eye reflects confidence. As teachers, we like to say “eyes on me.” That shows us that we have their attention. Sometimes when we don’t look people in the eye, it is because we are feeling guilt or shame

I’ve had the blessing of people staring right through me into my soul. These people build up the good and call out the areas in my life that need to change or be dropped. I know the gift of looking someone in the eye and feeling the freedom to share the deepest parts of me.  Why? Because there is ZERO JUDGEMENT.

Transparency allows us to be seen. Non-Judgment helps us accept being seen. Discernment allows us to TRULY SEE

My face-reading certainly isn’t a visual skill. I have the gift of discerning what someone else is experiencing. Do I get it right all the time? Nope. Is everything spoken over me entirely accurate? Nope. I do know that God has placed people in my life to look through me with the eyes of Christ, speaking to my soul, just like Jesus Himself did and does through the Holy Spirit!

Take some time and look people in the eye. Allow them to look into yours.