I believe that we only see what we want to see. And we only see what we are looking for.
I have had an on-going battle with my weight my entire life. I am one of those kind of people who has to weigh themselves every morning. The crazy thing that goes on in my head is that if I don’t see that number, it doesn’t exist.
The same thing goes with mirrors. If I don’t see my bulging silhouette, then I go ahead eating and not exercising.
I’ve noticed a variation on this theme with my husband and grandson. They will be “looking” for something but they are doing it with their mouth not their eyes. Perhaps Asher can’t find his shoes or my husband can’t find the remote, they scan the surface and then quickly announce that they can’t find what they’re looking for. If they would just move something aside they would find the item. Instead of really looking they just announce.
In the Christmas story, the Wise men, the shepherds, Simeon and Anna all were looking for Jesus. And they found him.
But Herod missed out. He wasn’t really looking to see Jesus. His reflection was the only thing that mattered.
We don’t have to look very far to see the trappings of Christmas, but will we move those things aside and really see Jesus?
What will you see this Christmas?
Pot of Manna 