Brian’s Reflection: Monday, June 29, 2009

It is only with one's heart that one can see clearly.
What is essential is invisible to the eye.

- from “The Little Prince”, by Antoine de St. Exupery,
author, born on this date, 1900, in Lyons


One must be careful here. About what is meant by “heart”. de St. Exupery was not being “romantic”, as Americans understand “romantic”. The “romantic” heart can be a treacherous guide. No, he was thinking of the heart as the guardian of willed love.

And here is the challenge for us human beings, I think. Jesus is reported to have said, “Love your enemies”. By which I think he meant nothing “romantic” – as in having nice feelings about them. He meant, “Look at your enemy, and indeed every person, with “willed love” – clearly, rationally, wishing them only for them what you wish for yourself: full and abundant humanity as anchored in compassion, mercy, justice.”

“Willed love” does not look or judge with the “outer eyes”; it looks with the “inward eyes”. It bypasses all “romantic” notions of beauty, worth, value. It sees the “essential” which is “invisible to the eye”. It sees every person and every other thing as a part of oneself – and therefore to be treated as one would wish to be treated.

I am going to try this tomorrow. If we understand “God” as the shared beauty of holiness that is between us and all Creation, I am going to try and “see” this in every person, situation, event that comes along. (And tomorrow, I will be dealing with taking my poor auto to the body shop, having been spectacularly rear-ended Saturday on the freeway – about which I am not feeling very good!)

Join me.

Brian+