Clergy from left, Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb, retired; Pastor Nicolé Ferry, Associate Rector Lynn Finnegan and Pastor Deb Church. Courtesy photo

By Pastor Nicolé Raddu Ferry
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Los Alamos

I must confess that for the first time since we began writing these articles-sharing our prayers, thoughts, hopes, reflections, and invitations as leaders of faith with this community of Los Alamos-the words “All Shall Be Well” caused me to pause. For you see, our world has great pain, injustice, division, and blindness to what we can do for “All [things to] Be Well.”

And so I wonder: Where are the eyes of our hearts? Theologian Frederick Buechner crafted the phrase, “Seeing with the eyes of the heart.” I wonder if we are able to “see with the eyes of our heart”? He also said, “If we are to love our neighbors, before doing anything else we must see our neighbors. With our imagination as well as our eyes, that is to say like artists, we must see not just their faces but the life behind and within their faces. Here it is love that is the frame we see them in.” He also said, “The life I touch for good or ill will touch another life, and in turn another, until who knows where the trembling stops or in what far place my touch will be felt.” Whom do we see?  Where do we give our attention? From what lens do we gain wisdom and make decisions?

Friends, I have just returned (and I mean just like three days ago) from a two-week ecumenical spiritual pilgrimage to Greece and Italy. Our original plan was to travel to the Holy Land. As you can imagine, there was a quick pivot as one week before we left, atrocities broke out in Israel and the West Bank. You read the numbers from Pastor Deb Beloved’s article two weeks ago, and the horrors have increased and continue to do so.

As you can imagine I have so much to process with a very “sleep wonky” brain, and I have many pictures to share paired with ponderings of which to make meaning. And yet I “saw” three amazing humans who I want to introduce to you. You will probably never meet them, and yet they invited me to see them with the eyes of my heart:

George

First, is George. Our amazing transportation professional and expert. George is a gentleman with over 30 years in this tourism industry, and he is the walking example of grace, pride in his work (yes he wiped down his bus multiple times a day), hospitality, gentleness (I do not think he slammed on the brakes one time nor did he honk his horn) and skill! Have you seen pictures of the streets in ancient cities?

I must have said WOW 30 times as he navigated the streets with such expertise. He had a smile and a thank you every day, and he was so excited when we rested in Athens so he could see his family. I stood in awe. I saw him with the eyes of my heart.

Alassandro

Then there is the amazing, culinary-professional Alassandro, who was our server for multiple nights in Rome. One of the first nights, my husband Ray was not feeling well and did not eat dinner.

I asked Alassandro if I could take the chilled bottle of water off the table to my dear husband. He looked at me and said, “No no no Madame, you must have room temperature water for him to feel better and I will give you not one, but two bottles!” He said that our earlier exchanges of smiles and gentle conversations (translate I do not speak Italian) made it so easy to want to help. Then the last night we were there he said his job is important, so that he can bring love into the world. He said there is not enough love in the world, and “I do this for my family and for the world.” Then he blessed Ray and me with three plates of dessert because we missed the earlier offerings! I stood in awe. I saw him with the eyes of my heart.

Sharaz

Then there is Sharaz. A faithful, Palestinian Christian who was with us the entire trip. He was concerned for his family, and he and his wife have found a rhythm of work and care for their children in the midst of horrible atrocities and death. He made us laugh. He was grateful for our prayers and inquiries, and he remained calm in the midst of uncertainty. He made amazing video snippets that will be turned into a full video for us to remember. I stood in awe. I saw him with the eyes of my heart.

Friends, all is not well right now. I invite you to pay attention with the eyes of your heart. Pay attention to language, to “absolutes” that are not, to your news sources, and to stereotypes that oppress. Our collective humanity is counting on it.

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” Romans 12:9-10.

Amen and amen.

Editor’s note: ‘All Shall Be Well’ is a semi-monthly column written by local women clergy (pastors and deacons) including, ELCA Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb, M.Div., retired (czoebidd@gmail.com); Nicolé Ferry, Pastor, Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church (pastornicole@bethluth.com); Lynn Finnegan, Assistant Rector, The Episcopal Church of the Holy Faith, Santa Fe (rev.lynn@holyfaithchurchsf.org) and Deb Church, Pastor, White Rock Presbyterian Church (pastor@wrpchurch.com).