Look See & Perceive • Part 1

“One common reason for why we don’t see is due to a restriction of time, which appears to program our eyes to overlook that which would cause us to spend time we believe we do not have…” — Rick Cox

Part 1

Most of us have had the experience of looking for a certain piece of clothing only to come away without finding it. As a matter of fact, it may not have been clothing, it could have been anything. The other day I asked my wife to pick up a couple of bottles of supplements. She asked if I had looked ‘to see’ if we had any extra bottles? I replied emphatically, YES, I had already looked. What I ‘saw’ was we did not have any of the supplements she was so sure we had. She then asked if I had looked in the lower cabinet under the counter as well as the upper one; and if I had looked on her side as well. Once again I told her I had looked asking her to please pick some up.

When she returned home from shopping I looked in the bags she brought in, but none of the supplements for which I had asked, were in them. I was disappointed. She said she didn’t want to purchase any until she had a chance to ‘see’ if I might have overlooked them. I assured her, I did not. I was not happy and even upset she would question me.

A few moments later I was back at my computer typing while she was putting away the things she had purchased. Well, about an hour or so later she walked into my office and placed two bottles of the supplements on my desk. I looked at the bottles then up at her and said, “Well, so you really did buy them, thank you!” She told me she had not, but had looked in my bottom cabinet and there they were staring at her. I said that was not possible as I had searched the bottom cabinet and they were not there. She just smiled and walked away. Unfortunately, this has happened to me when it comes to shirts, pants, food, pills, you name it. I say we don’t have it and she says we do. In most of the cases, we do.

Often, what we are looking for is right in front of us yet, we are oblivious to it. Said another way, we are looking, but we don’t see. The question is how can one person see it when the other cannot? I believe the answer lies in our mental state at the time we are looking. Allow me to explain.

If we were to analyze the occasions this most often happens, it is usually when we are hard pressed with little or no time meaning we have an impending deadline to complete a task or we need to get completed before we must rush out the door or be late for an appointment. Two things have helped to set up this situation: The first happens because under limited time we take on the mind set we will not be able to find that for which we are looking. The second and often the most important is we have recently criticized someone else of not being able to find or see something right in front of them. This is known as the Boomerang of Condemnation.

The Boomerang of Condemnation can best be described in the following manner:

When we see someone make a mistake and as a result become harsh, critical, and verbally condemning of their actions, we will have participated in the Boomerang of Condemnation. These harsh and cutting comments almost always come back to condemn us of the very thing we just condemned in someone else. It is common to find yourself in this situation because it is human nature to:

1. Think negatively when the pressure is on.

2. Pick on others in order to elevate and help make you feel better when things go wrong.

Jesus said in Matthew 13:13-17; Mark 4:12 & Luke 8:10, many look, but don’t see. Why and how is it, one can look and yet, not see? These people are caught up in the Boomerang of Condemnation. Their way of life usually consists of a critical spirit; a demeaning attitude, selfishness, and or bigotry. They are critical of others yet, they usually have the same weaknesses and problems. Speaking of these types of people, Jesus said in Matthew 7:5, “First take the log out of your own eye before you talk about the twig in the eye of your friend.”

When your lifestyle consists of being critical and condemning of others you will find the same criticism and condemnation coming back at you, multiplied. For the majority, their growth and success is often beset, sidetracked, or stopped altogether. They will find it hard or impossible to reach even their natural potential let alone their dreams. But, life is simply GIVING BACK to them, what they first gave out.

Over the years, I discovered something interesting about me, which I have come to believe, is a common to most all mankind. The ability to see faults in my wife, children, co-workers or friends was not due to having a keen insight or because “I” had been chosen to “POINT OUT” their faults. That was not it at all. As a matter of fact when my eyes were truly opened to why I could see their faults, I was ashamed. I was able to see their faults or more importantly ‘those faults’ because my eyes had been opened to that upon which I needed to work. It just so happened they had the same issue. Instead of working on myself or asking why it was I could now see it in others, I pounced on those I saw with the problem, like a bird on a bug. I was critical of something they were doing, but was just as guilty myself. What had happened is this: My eyes were opened in order for me to see a weakness upon which I needed to work. It wasn’t until my eyes were opened to see the weakness that I could see it in others.

This does not mean one can’t teach, guide, or offer critique when necessary as would be the case of a parent, coach, or even a good friend once in a while. One of the ways to know when you are truly helping others is your type of approach and attitude. A person with an arrogant attitude is usually a person needing to work on the very issue in which they are being critical of someone else. On the other hand, if your approach is one of humility and reluctance, you are probably doing the right thing.

Best of LUCK as you
Labor Under Correct Knowledge…

Respectfully,

Rick Cox