The Three-Dimensional Life

Eleanor Roosevelt was a remarkable woman - dedicated to her husband, her country and public service. Recently I finished her book, You Learn by Living: Eleven Keys for a More Fulfilling Life. 

She wrote several books, but as this one was written at the age of seventy-six, she had acquired experiences that enabled her to give good advice for those who want to live a full life. 

She was very honest in her assessment of herself. She shared many instances of how others taught her the value of learning, but an example (in her first chapter) of an adjustment in her own thinking set the pattern for the rest of the book. 

"Perhaps the most essential thing for a continuing education is to develop the capacity to know what you see and to understand what it means...As an example, many years ago the Consumers League asked me to check on conditions in department stores. I made my report. It was valueless.

"But," I was asked,"do these women have any stools to sit on behind the counter when they are not waiting on customers or must they stand all day?"

For years I had gone to department stores, I have seen women behind counters. It never occurred to me that perhaps they could never sit down and rest. I hadn't looked....

When I began - so slowly - actually to look around me and to try to understand the meaning of what I saw, everything I encountered became more interesting and more valuable. It was like a two-dimensional picture seen in three dimensions, with depth."

This was not the last time Mrs. Roosevelt mentioned questions that made her think. She learned by listening and looking. 

Mrs. Roosevelt did not indicate that she was talking about a lack of spiritual eyes and understanding, but her example reminded me of Jesus speaking of people - even believers - who have eyes, but cannot see. That would, I believe, present the two-dimensional picture Mrs. Roosevelt described. We live in a three-dimensional world, but we can ignore the spiritual side of it. Depth of living and learning comes from observing the world - as much as possible - from God's perspective. 

And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet see or understand? Do you have a hardened heart? Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember, when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces you picked up?" They said to Him, "Twelve." When I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?" And they said to Him, "Seven." And He was saying to them, "Do you not yet understand?" (Mark 8:17-21).

Really Seeing the World Around You

I subscribe to a writer's magazine and follow several blogposts submitted by their staff. The motivational tips on writing, information on the latest developments in the publishing industry, what kind of writing is currently attractive to readers, etc. give me much needed facts in an ever changing world. There is practically no way to keep up on all the pertinent information without help. 

Theirs is not the only source I consult. I purchase books on writing, read what others write - both fiction and nonfiction - and notice blogs where successful published authors share their secrets and hints at sticking with their writing, no matter what. Some authors share how they conquer writer's block. Others give helpful knowledge about grammar, word usage, punctuation and formatting.

Recently I read a guest post by Kevin Kaiser on Writer's Digest entitled "What Bestselling Writers Do Differently Than Everyone Else." Of the four points that he made, it was the first one that caught my attention. Kevin said, "They are intent on seeing the world. Most of humanity hurries through the day in a fog, looking only where they need to in order to survive...But prolific and successful artists are students of the world around them. They pay attention because stories worth capturing are happening all the time right next to them. They just see it where others don't. Eyes that look are common, eyes that see are rare."

Kevin's definition of an artist is "anyone who creates something that enriches the lives of others, whether that’s leading a vibrant organization, writing a book or singing a song."

I think Kevin has captured the essence of a rich life - no matter what your occupation is. I also recently heard an extraordinary speech given to military cadets. The speaker showed pictures of men and women he had worked with - some who had given their lives for our country. Along with the pictures, he told their stories. His speech was so moving and inspiring because he actually saw the men and women who served under him. He paid attention to them. Kevin said, "eyes that see are rare." This man's eyes were definitely in that category. Anyone serving in his unit would know that he was not just a number or part of a unit, but that he had value. 

At one point, Jesus' disciples asked Him why He talked to the people in parables. In His reply to them, He said that He spoke in parables because "while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand." Kevin Kaiser may not have realized his observation "most of humanity hurries through the day in a fog" had spiritual implications, but it does. He was right. "Eyes that look are common, eyes that see are rare."

But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear (Matthew 13:16).