Do you see the Flowers?
People often ask me why I do the strange things I do — like spending my Friday nights cruising downtown just to talk to all of the street dwellers, picking up hitch-hikers, handing out flowers to strangers, or purposely driving somewhere I have never been at a whim just to see what will happen and who I will meet. My answer usually goes a little something like this: “I like seeing the Flowers,” or “Beauty begets beauty.”
The poem written above is my way of recounting a most extraordinary evening from my life — a night of profound revelation. On this particular summer night, I set out with an idea. I wanted to see the full spectrum of life. I wanted to look closely where most would avert their eyes. And I wanted to greet and speak with whoever looked into mine. The first woman I met was sitting on a street corner with her son, holding a small cardboard sign. In red crayon were the words, “Roses by Donation: Spread the Love!” Intrigued, I sat down next to her on the warm Arizona pavement. She looked directly into my eyes, without hesitation. Her’s were a deep olive green with flecks of gold, glowing intensely under the florescent street lamp.
“You have a beautiful soul,” she said, without preface, without even a blink. I sensed that she was speaking from a deeper place, an assured place. It seemed as though all of life’s cruelty and roughness from the outside world had pushed her to find strength and solidarity within. She had universes of wisdom lying just behind those eyes.
“May I buy a rose?” I asked.
“Absolutely not,” she said, chuckling in self-satisfied gaiety, “but you can have one. I’ll even teach you how to make them. You have to have a niche around here. Busking can be a tough gig. Mine is hand-made flowers. We just need more flowers in life. I swear the world would be a better place.”
In that moment, I was able to drop all my perceptions about her appearance or way of life. And as I looked at her I could see only one thing: Beauty. Overwhelming Beauty.
“I see you,” I said.
She smiled this heavenly smile, corners of lips stretching as far as they could reach, cheeks filling with color. “Bless you, child,” she said, “you’ve got a good heart.”
I met so many brilliant people that night — each one like a unique flower, unfolding and telling me their story, revealing their true beauty. With each encounter, my heart grew. I knew that I would never be the same.
~ ~ ~
There are millions of people, whole continents of people that we don’t see or choose not to see. We walk by people everyday, casting our eyes away; whether because their hair is too long or too messy, they have holes the size of silver dollars in their ears or too many tattoos or not enough. Whether because they dress differently, have a disability or disfigurement, have a different skin color or sexual orientation, have a different religion or social or economic status. Maybe you are one of these people — the marginalized, or worse, the ‘unperson.’ In this way of seeing, everyone around us become only objects. Seen as objects, they are either “in the way” or can be manipulated to serve our means. When we see others as objects, we have closed our eyes and hearts to them; we have closed our eyes and hearts to ourselves.
What do you see when you look in the mirror? Do you see a person, a whole person? What do you see when you look at another? The world around us is a mirror for our hearts. When we look with open hearts, we see beauty; when we look with closed hearts, we see only objects passing by. I want to see the flowers. I want to see the bouquet of life. The beauty that I see each day inspires an ever-open heart and a mind to be kind — for I am looking at my very own reflection.
I know that we are all busy. We have our schedules, and are constantly dashing from one place to the next. But I invite you to take a moment today to see someone. It could be anyone. (You could even practice in the mirror!) Just look into their eyes. Who knows what you will discover.
~ ~ ~
Namaste
“The Divine Spark of my Heart
Salutes the Divine Spark or your Heart.”