Looking for God’s Goodness in contemplation and prayer. Three Ways to View the Sunset. Father Richard describes how a simple experience such as viewing a sunset can be an opportunity for contemplative “third-eye” seeing:
Three people stood by the ocean, looking at the same sunset.
One saw the immense physical beauty and enjoyed the event in itself. This one was the “sensing” type who, like most people in the world, deals with what can be seen, touched, moved, and fixed. This was enough reality to consider, without much interest in larger ideas, intuitions, or the grand scheme of things. This is first eye seeing, which is good.
The second person saw the sunset, and enjoyed all the beauty that the first person did. Additionally, like all lovers of coherent thought, technology, and science, this person also enjoyed comprehension of the cyclical rotation of planets and stars. Using imagination, intuition, and reason to see with a second eye was even better.
The third one saw the sunset, knowing and enjoying all that the first and second people did. With the facility to progress from seeing to explaining to “tasting,” this person also stood in awe before an underlying mystery, coherence, and spaciousness that created a connection with everything else. Engaging this third eye is the best, for it is the full goal of all seeing and all knowing.
Where might you be able to practice seeing with your “third eye” today?
Weekly Reflection Summary: Connected.
Sunday. In Love. Connected together, one triune God in different forms.
Monday. Better Together. God’s love can bridge the divide.
Tuesday. Hopeful Vision. The canvas of God’s masterpiece.
Wednesday. Body, Mind and Spirit. Promised the gift of peace.
Thursday. A Soft Heart. Knowing myself.
Friday. Total Confidence. Unlocking self-made prisons.
Smitten With Goodness 