What is Emerging?

In July, many of the Loretto Community members and others participated in a retreat sponsored by Loretto Link — the theme was “Seeing with New Eyes” or “Seeing with the Eyes of the Heart.” Or as some suggested, “Seeing as God Sees!” Paulette Peterson opened the gathering saying, “We do not know what we will ultimately become but being together in this way for this retreat is a step into the future.” This retreat experience was indeed a “step into the future” in which our awareness was sharpened and our consciousness raised!

So let us take this opportunity to continue stepping into the future by exploring further what it means to “see with God’s eyes.”

Thomas Merton tells us that God sees all things as good and beautiful yet does not take nor use them for God’s own self. God sees people and things in their essence, as they are in themselves, and loves them without judgment or condition.

We are aware of some people, especially the mystics, who have had moments of highest mystical awareness where they “see” people radiant with an inner beauty. Yes, this is possible for any of us! When we see things and people without reference to ourselves, as they are in themselves, we see them as God sees them.

We invite you to ponder and wonder with us: Is this the kind of love we are all called to in order to bring about peace and love on this Earth? What would our homes, our communities, our country, our Earth look like if we saw people as God sees them?

Sources:
Thomas Merton, “A Book of Hours,” edited by Kathleen Deignan

“99 Names of God” by David Steindl-Rast