How do you see?

In an earlier post I suggested that it is good to live responsively. We should live in response to God's creative word. One of the most complex of the creative changes that God brings about in us has to do with our response to our surroundings. What do we see? How do we see? Who do we see? It is amazing how we can meet the same people and walk away with completely different impressions about them. Also, it is amazing how little we invest in seeing what God intends for us to see. One of the earliest casualties of our busy lives is compassion. As we become efficient and "professional" with our time management, we can lose the significance of the moments that God gives us. Recently I re-read some classic Henri Nouwen statements in "The Wonded Healer". His admonition for us as followers of Jesus is to bring out the best in others. He warns of the perils of observing people from a distance rather than seeing with God-given eyes of compassion. Of Christian leaders in the future he writes.."the danger is that his skillful diagnostic eye will become more an eye for distant and detailed analysis than the eye of a compassionate partner". Have you ever been guilty of sizing someone up and diagnosing what's wrong rather than giving place for the compassion of Christ to well up within you? I thought so...me too.