I’m a person that usually smiles upon eye contact… if I’m being myself that is.  Granted, I’m not always myself so if you’ve seen me and I didn’t smile at you, I’m sorry, please forgive me.  So anyway, it may not be like a full out teethy grin, but it’s usually this ‘press your mouth together, smile with your eyes’ thing.  Lately, nobody smiles back… or nobody holds eye contact with me long enough to acknowledge.  So, in essence, I find myself being the awkward smiler at people who could care less.  It’s so sad to me.  And to most, it’s not a big deal… but people have seemingly become so robotic.  We just do our jobs, and say the things we’re supposed to like, ‘have a nice day’ or ‘thank you’ and we do it without cracking even a smirk.  I’m guilty too…. but, it just seems that no one really looks at anyone anymore.  We co-exist as people, but we don’t treat each other like we’re real, like we actually have real feelings and lives and problems.  Smiling is not really enough when we take the time to realize this… it would be so much better to sit down and listen to someone, ask them to tell you about themselves.  It’s so simple, you just ask a few questions, focus on the things that tend to put a light in a complete stranger’s eyes and let them talk.  I love watching life come to eyes that were so passive and emotionless at ‘hello’.  Nonetheless, what does at least smiling hurt?

Recently, I’ve noticed this problem in a way that has just really started to bother me-to the point that I just really have asked God to help me see people, like really see them.  And, if it can happen naturally, in a way that’s not creepy or weird, to bless my conversations with people by helping me know how to bless them.  It’s been really cool, and at the same time convicting… because I definitely don’t always pay attention to the people that come into my life.  God knows though… and I really desire to see those people, the ones that He places in our path.  We could possibly be the source of encouragement for a day that seems unending for them… you never know.  It does something in me that I can’t really describe.  Will it always be easy?  Probably not.  But what does it hurt to try?

Today, I smiled at someone.  A lady, as we were getting on the elevator together.  It’s something I usually do… but today, someone smiled back.  I felt validated, and all I did was smile.  I guess I felt like someone actually saw me.  I wonder if that’s what happens in anyone else?  It’s ridiculous to think that we could be friendly with every single person ever… but hey, it’s a fun game to try…

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