Something In Your Eyes

All stories copyright 2007 Bob Perks
Today's message:

"Something in your eyes"
By Bob Perks

She said "Hello" and smiled at me. I asked "How are you doing?"

Without hesitation she said, "Good, I'm doing good."

"There's something in your eyes," I thought to myself. Something she was
hiding.

"Anything new?" I asked.

"Oh...new? No, not really," she said. "How about you?"

"There are so many new things I wouldn't know where to begin," I said smiling.

"Really? That's...great. I'm happy for you. Hope they're all good things."

There it was again. She could say all the stuff we say when we "chit-chat."

We are so much in a hurry any more that we really don't take time to listen.

Much like the adult voices in a Charlie Brown cartoon, we speak but never
really understand.

"Wha waa waa wa" Charlie Brown hears.

Like when we go through a check out in a store. "Hi! How are you today?"

"Fine, how are you?"

"Fine."

Next time tell them.

"How are you today?"

"Well, I've got too many bills. My back hurts. My feet are paining me so
much. My sister drives me
crazy. I don't make enough money and they are pushing me so much at work I
want to quit. My car...."

Well, you get the picture.

You know you can't do it. We have those light conversations simply out of
courtesy.

Wouldn't it be great if we really meant it when we asked..."How are you?"

Wouldn't it be great if we felt we could tell someone exactly what's going on?

They say the eye's are the portals to the soul. It is a fact, I believe
because I have
often times been able to see beyond the words. The way one looks at me, the
things left
unsaid are often reflected in the very depth of their vision. I've seen it a
hundred times in
a photo of a child of war. I've seen loneliness in the eyes of a homeless
man. I've seen
pain the eyes of a woman mourning for the loss of her loved one and heaven in
the eyes of a new born
child.

What about the stranger? Why can't we ask "How are you?" and care enough to
want to know.

As for my friend, I was able to draw out the truth just by listening. She
spoke volumes when
I stopped talking and silence was our platform. There was no small talk left
only concern.

"There's something in your eyes," I said.

She could not look at me. Then, turning toward me I discovered I was right.
They were
filled with tears.

"I have cancer," she said.

I sighed and the healing began.

Nothing can ever be resolved in the darkness of that place we hide our pain.
It is our
obligation, our duty, our calling, our purpose to extend a hand to any human
being in need
of help. For the pain reflected in their eyes wide open is often magnified
beyond
reality when they are shut. In the darkness of night fear rules. For their
vision, their
sadness, their loss is ever present.

I say then, my friends...listen and you'll see the truth in the eyes of
another.

They in turn, will see "Something in your eyes", too.

God.

"I believe in you!"
Bob
I encourage you to share my stories but I do ask that you keep my name and
contact information with my work.