My thoughts today turn to perception. So often what something or someone looks like is not perception. Not true perception anyway. Let me give a couple of examples.

• Twice in Psalm 49 (verses 12 & 20) it says, “Man in his pomp will not remain; he is like the beasts that perish.”  People of wealth are often looked at with envy and jealousy. “I wish __________” often falls from our lips. We applaud them. We give them awards, accolades, name buildings after them, etc. They live the so-call hi-life, or so we are led to believe. But underneath all that glitz and bling is the same kind of soul I have. A soul that needs God. They can be empty, miserable, reaching for meaning and purpose, longing for companionship and all the pretense covers it up. Perception.
• Tattoo man or woman. I have no tats. Not because I believe they are wrong, but because I don’t want to spend the money. I’m sort of tight when it comes to certain things. (Now bike stuff? Well, we won’t go there. 🙂 ) Besides, I’m 66 years old. Why? But the perception of a person with tats is often suspect. I know there are pastors and churches who avoid and forbid tattooed people from entering their door. Shame on them! (I actually had one man walk away from me when I did not agree with his view on tats.) Can they not see that underneath those tats is a heart that beats and a soul that aches and reaches for meaning and purpose? I know of several people who love tattoos and have quite a bit of ink. While that is not me, I love them.

All that to say, perceptions can be tricky. An outward perception of disgust and “lostness” due to tats; or an outward perception of “that must be the life, they must have it all” can only lead to misrepresentation and misconception of who they truly are on the inside.

“Father, help me to see beyond the surface, deeper than skin. Help me to see the person who is there, the heart of that individual. Help me not to prejudge nor judge at all based on externals. Let me see people as you see them.”