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I'm Trying to See Like Jesus

 Letters From the Nest, October 18, 2024

https://lettersfromthenest.substack.com/p/im-trying-to-see-like-jesus

    Fiddlesticks. I can’t remember if I have already written about this thing I’m thinking about today. I guess it’s okay if I write about it more than once. I say the same things repeatedly, don’t I? Might as well write them too. That way, when I’m long gone, and you’re all sitting around telling stories about me because I know you will, and somebody gets something wrong, because I know you will, one of you can say, “We don’t have to argue about this. She wrote about it right here!”  Disclaimer #1: Just because I write about something doesn’t mean my opinion won’t evolve with time and experience. Disclaimer #2: Just because I write about my core beliefs on acting/reacting/living a certain way doesn’t mean you’ll always observe a perfect replication of the righteous sentiment in my daily behavior. Like you, I get mad, tired, and hungry, and my best behavior slips.

    Okay, so the thing on my mind that I’m wondering if I have ever written about is careful observation. It’s not just about observation but also awareness and curiosity about the lenses through which we make important observations. I’m also thinking about how our filtered observations lead us to make certain conclusions, which lead us to take certain actions or behave a certain way. Are you following me? It’s cognitive-behavioral stuff. I’m studying psychology right now, so this is on my mind. (No nerdy pun intended.)


    I know I have written about the phrase, “observe, then serve.” You’ve also heard Dad and me say it multiple times, like when you get the “three nice things” consequence for treating your sibling badly. These “nice things” are supposed to be acts of thoughtful service you provide for somebody in the family you are not treating well. Sometimes, you’re so annoyed or angry at that person that you don’t even want to think about ways to serve them. We don’t want to give you an easy out by telling you all the ways you can be kind to your sibling, so when you say, “What should I do?” We say, “Observe, then serve.” All of you have had some practice with that particular idea in action.

Another popular phrase you have heard is, “What would Jesus do?” This phrase is not common in our family. Still, I think about it sometimes, especially when my blood pressure rises in response to chaos, frustration, inaccurate accusations, or hurtful words. What would Jesus do? It’s easy to figure out what He would do but difficult to mirror His behavior.


    Does it help to shift the question from “What would Jesus do?” to “What would Jesus see? Have I written about this? We might think we are behaving like Him, but we could miss the mark if we’re not seeing as He does. Emotions cloud truth, but using the “Jesus lens” might shift our perspective enough to help us avoid making erroneous conclusions and doing something we might regret. If we see as He sees, we can act as He would.


    Jesus sees truth. He sees potential. He makes perfect conclusions based on accurate information. His behavior is completely integrity-based.


    It seems like a lot to live up to, but, like all things, we won’t make progress without practice.


    I’m trying to see like Jesus, and I hope you do too.



** Preview to my next installation on Letters From the Nest: I’m thinking hard about this word “trying.” Is it a copout, or is it a recognition of potential growth?

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