Familiarity

Familiarity breeds contempt – This means that the more you know something or someone, the more you start to find faults and dislike things about it or them.

However familiarity can also cause us to look past someone or something and not see the true beauty of the person or thing.

This morning I was reading “The Messages of Easter” by Elizabeth Peal Allen of Guideposts and was struck by the following in the message: “Our vision is so often dulled by familiarity. We go along in our habitual way, maybe looking at the ground, or so distracted by our thoughts and inner stress that we don't really see what's around us. We even miss miracles.”

How many times have you driven somewhere, only to arrive and think, “when did I pass the gas station or traffic lights or whatever….” We put ourselves on auto pilot and just drive. Have you ever automatically turned a certain way when you were planning on going somewhere else?

“One of the messages of the Easter story is simply this: Open your eyes. Look for a touch of beauty and brightness in an unexpected place. Search for a trace of Christ's likeness in the face of the person serving you in the grocery store, or riding with you on the bus, or sitting beside you in the doctor's waiting room. Be alert for wonders and you'll find them everywhere.” (EPA)

What a wonderful message – Open your eyes. Just look around you at all the wonders of spring – the trees are budding, the grass is growing and soon the flowers will begin to peek through the ground. People will begin to come out of their houses and go for walks. Take the time to really see them, to say hello. Your life will be better for this.

BANABU

Fran

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