Looking vs. Seeing

There's a difference between looking and seeing. When you live somewhere it's easy to just look at things around you...but not really see. You can become so "used" to looking at certain aspects of where you live that you fail to see them...you almost become callous to life around you. Yesterday I was on the back of the boda (motorcycle) and I took the time to see life around me.

I saw a woman, heavy with child, carrying a basket of bananas on her head.

I saw a man straining to push a bicycle laden with sugar cane up a steep hill.

I saw a family of 7 living in a one room concrete house.

I saw 4 children running too close to the busy road. No one was watching them.

I saw a lady squatting to use the restroom...right in public. Stripped of dignity.

I saw an old man with gray hair. Only the 2nd old person I've seen since we moved here.

I saw a man pushing the wooden wheelbarrow full of watermelons and pineapples. Trying to provide for his family at home.

I saw 3 women laughing and chatting outside the tailoring shop.

I saw cows holding up traffic as they crossed the street.

I saw children playing with a crushed water bottle. Pushing it with a stick for fun.

I saw men running beside cars selling everything: jumper cables, pruning shears, sunglasses, newspapers, bags of beans, inflatable swimming pools, brooms, belts, purses, toys, everything. Working hard every day. All day.

I saw the woman sitting on the side of the road looking lost and alone.

I saw a little girl wearing purple crocs. Nothing else.

I saw a woman dressed in beautiful clothes, walking with her children to church.

I saw trash everywhere. Everywhere.

I saw 2 ladies, their children with them, struggling to keep a small store open. One had her head in her hands and the other was sleeping, leaned up against the counter.

I saw a little boy smile at me and wave, "Hi, mzungu."

I looked and I saw poverty. I saw hopelessness. I saw despair. But I also saw life. And determination. And strength. I saw people that need Jesus.

I looked and I saw. I pray that I will see life here through Jesus' eyes. He loves these people. He died for them. He sent us here to bring them His love and His hope. I don't have any idea what to do about the things I saw yesterday. But I saw. I am changing. I want to love like Jesus loves.