The Flesh Of Christ: Look me in the eye

Photograph by Pixabay

Do you give aid or assistance to others? Do you have personal contact with people you are assisting? Jim Manney

When you see me standing at the intersection
of St. Mike’s and St. Francis
look me in the eye as you drive by
I am human too

When I see you in your SUV
I feel your friction watch you squirm
More than your dollar
I want your change

See me
Feel me smile
as you drive by
I am human too

One year ago I attended an Interfaith Leadership Alliance event in Santa Fe, NM, at which six currently or previously unhoused people bravely told their stories. In response to the first question from the audience, “What may we do for you?” a middle-age man who appeared much worn replied, “Look me in the eye. Smile. See me.” The other five panelists nodded assent. “Look at us as you drive by. We are human too.” I cried.

Poetry and comment by Debra Asis.

Jim Manney’s above quote is found in today’s selection in An Ignatian Book of Days by Jim Manney, a series of daily reflections from the Spiritual Wisdom of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Throughout the book we hear the voices of St. Ignatius as well as many great thinkers and writers, long gone and present day, each uniquely revealing the way of finding God in all things.And that is my intention; to find God/Divine Presence/Ultimate Reality in whatever presents itself to me each day in 2024.

Each day I read, reflect and write on the selection, hoping to articulate the ways in which I come to know God/Divine Presence/Ultimate Reality via personal experience, impelled by the leading of my inner life.

INVITATION

Would you like to join me? The book is accessible on Amazon. Let me know in the comments to this post and sign up to get an email whenever I post. I would love to read your reflections too, public or private messages welcome!

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Learn more about me at
https://www.debraasis.org

All words are generated by grace and the grit of a real human being,
Debra Asis