Contributed by Vic Kohring
Eyes Reveal True Character
“Be the living expression of God’s kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness.” - Mother Teresa
The eyes reveal a lot about a person, whether good or bad, kind or not.
Aside from the eyes, other personal characteristics can be telling but aren’t necessarily the best way to evaluate others. The Book of Samuel talks about how people often look at one’s outward appearance when judging others, but the Lord always looks inside the heart.
I try my best to follow this example, being careful not to ascertain who a person is based on appearance but rather their character as a human being, while using the eyes as a means to understand them better.
The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King proclaimed that we should judge others by the content of their character and not the color of their skin. I would add that judging others must be done by their deeds instead of words as words are meaningless if not backed up with action. We should also cast aside ethnicity, creed, race, and religion and instead look to the heart.
When first sizing up someone and looking into their eyes, I seem to have an uncanny ability to determine within seconds if they are genuine and credible. I often sense an aura through a combination of tone of voice, body language, and overall attitude. It’s difficult for one to disguise their true feelings with their eyes, at least in my presence.
Most important is the look in one’s eyes which reveal a trove of information. Much can be learned simply by gazing into eyes because they expose a variety of emotions – even what one is thinking - based on how a person gazes back.
Studies have shown that the size of one’s pupils change depending on emotions, expectations and intentions. They also reveal one’s interest or lack thereof when they speak. In other words, the pupils show what’s going on inside a person’s mind. You can often tell if one is not being truthful as pupil’s never lie. The old sayings that “Eyes never lie even though the lips often do” and that “The eyes have their own vocabulary,” are true.
The crucial thing I look for is sincerity, an open mind and whether a person is honest and therefore can be trusted. If I sense otherwise, I usually cut the conversation short and move on. Life is too short to waste it on the disingenuous, manipulative and those not interested in what you have to say.
The exception of course is when you believe potential exists to eventually bring someone to your point of view politically, for example, or if they’re open to your views on Christianity. In that case, patience and persistence are important, especially from a Christian perspective as we’re directed by God to witness to others and share the Gospel.
I think of the plethora of politicians in Juneau and Washington with their “haughty eyes and proud hearts” and those who think mostly of themselves. Such wickedness produces sin as Proverbs states. Most pols seriously lack humility, a negative trait I can spot a mile away.
Matthew 6:22-24 says, “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. Lots of darkness unfortunately exists in our state and national capitals.
Let’s be kind to others and reveal an abundance of light through our eyes. It will make our world a better place.
Please visit my website at www.vickohringministries.net
