Yesterday I realized that we all need glasses. I am a Christian, and I believe in Jesus Christ, so I have been trying this thing my professor talked about in class. He gave us a four-step formula, and he told us he would see a change in our lives if we tried it. He cautioned us that trying this wouldn't always bring instantaneous, miraculous results, but he did tell us that something would happen if we tried. I tend to take everything as a challenge, so I gave the formula a go. Step One. Ask God to send someone in need. Step Two. Ask God to help you be aware when that person crosses your path. Step Three. Brag on Jesus. Step Four. Pray for them on the spot. So far, I have prayed for a Walmart worker, a lady I see every day, and an elderly man at a mechanics shop, because my car quit working.

In following this four-step formula, I have begun to realize something. I realized there are many ways to see people. I haven't been seeing them clearly. It is easy to see a Walmart greeter. You can see a Walmart greeter as someone to walk past when you are in a hurry, someone who stands there to make sure no one shoplifts, or even someone to look down on because of their job. When is the last time you stopped and spoke to a Walmart greeter? They stand there, night and day, saying hello and smiling as they are constantly ignored. How must it feel, to talk to people and always be ignored? It makes me think of how Jesus must feel when He wants our attention and we ignore Him.

I walked by the Walmart greeter. I walked back and stopped to speak to him. He had a story. He had been in a vehicular accident which left him severely injured. He was informed by doctors it was a miracle he was even alive, let alone able to stand and work to greet people and make their day better. I prayed over him, and I don't know how much it did for his injuries, but I genuinely believe it touched his soul. I know it touched mine. Everyone has a story. Everyone has been hurt, broken, loved, unloved, angry, sad, scared, and nervous. Do we take time to see that? Do we take time to learn people's stories? Do we take time to see them as eternal souls? Do we look at the people who are somewhat dirty, somewhat smelly, somewhat loud, somewhat insecure, somewhat different than us, and see them the way God sees them? Do we see them as hurting, broken creatures who are desperately crying out to be mended by grace? Or do we walk past them with blinders on, as if we don't notice them standing there?

In the Bible there is a story called "The Good Samaritan." This story is about a Jewish man who was beaten, bruised, injured and left for dead. People who were his religious leaders, (equivalent to a pastor of a church to put it in today's view) walked by him and left him for dead on the side of the road. A man from Samaria came upon him. Samaritans and Jews were enemies. This Samaritan didn't keep going past him, nor did he stop and injure him worse. Instead, he paused and helped the man up. He cleaned his wounds and took him somewhere safe to say. He didn't see an enemy, he saw a hurting broken person in need of help. How do we see people that are supposed to be our enemies? Do we look for ways to serve them?

We all need glasses. Not four eye's glasses, or hipster glasses, but glasses of love. We need to put on glasses of compassion, no matter what race, religion, or Pokemon team we are, we are all human beings. We all have souls. Whether it's the greeter at Walmart or the Syrian refugee, we all need someone to love us. I believe that love we all crave is from Christ alone. As a Christ-follower, I want to do my best to show that love and compassion to others. It's time to take off our rose colored glasses, and ask God to give us the wisdom and the lenses to see others through His eyes.