Open my Eyes

The sunrise this morning was wonderful. I was driving downtown, and had to stop at the ice cream store to take a picture – not the best picture, but it was the parking lot of Baskin Robbins, so what do you expect? Look how beautiful it was.

What? Are you distracted by the stop lights, the traffic, the school in the foreground? It would certainly be nice if I could remove all of those things which block the way to seeing the whole beauty of the morning sky.

Hmmm.

Perhaps that is what Advent is all about? Preparing the way? Clearing out the distractions – those things which block our way from seeing or experiencing God.

Open my eyes, that I may see
Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key
That shall unclasp and set me free.

Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready my God, Thy will to see,
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!

The sunrise on my way to work, on my end of town, turned into breathtaking sunshine here at the VA, which is the second picture.

Driving today, parking, taking pictures, I felt close to God. Do I think God made the sun rise in such a spectacular way, just for me? No, I don’t. Do I think he opens my eyes, taps me on the shoulder, and says, “Look. Notice. See how beautiful my creation is!” Yes, I do believe that.

Open my ears, that I may hear
Voices of truth Thou sendest clear;
And while the wave notes fall on my ear,
Everything false will disappear.

Open my mouth, and let me bear,
Gladly the warm truth everywhere;
Open my heart and let me prepare
Love with Thy children thus to share.

Look at that. Voices of Truth.

Open my eyes, God, that I may notice you.
The beauty of your creation all around me
The wonder of your creation inside of me.

Open my ears, God, that I may hear you.
Your Voice of Truth
Please send it clear.

Open my mouth, God,
And let me speak your Words.
And prepare my heart
To be a-gape.
To share agape.

Amen.

Note: The hymn is Open My Eyes, That I May See by Clara Scott.