Open Our Eyes

We weren’t exactly thrilled when we moved to New Haven. We had a wonderful white picket fence life near the beach in Blue Point, Long Island. We lived in the home of our dreams. Most of all, we were comfortable. New Haven, through our eyes at the time, was quite different. It was city life that stared us in the face: high rise apartment buildings, bus stops littered with garbage, and traffic with noise that grated on our nerves. In Blue Point we were insulated and “safe” from daily exposure to the poor, the needy, and the homeless. In New Haven, where God was calling us, the needs of the people He sent us to serve were overwhelming and even frightening. How could He use US to fulfill His purpose?

In 2 Kings 6:8-13, Elisha’s servant is terrified when he wakes up early in the morning and sees the Syrian army surrounding the city and ready to attack. He cries out to Elisha the prophet, asking him what they will do. Elisha simply tells his servant that he sees things differently. He sees more soldiers fighting for them than against them!  Elisha prays for God to open the eyes of his servant. The prophet knew this man needed a change of heart; he knew this man was one who had to see it to believe it!  Elisha also knew only God could open his servant’s eyes. When his eyes were opened, the servant saw God’s army; a mountain full of horses and chariots of fire were ready to defend them against the Syrian army! I’m sure his mouth dropped open as his eyes drank in the sight. Elisha’s servant had a change of perspective. Fear disappeared and confidence arose to take a stand against the enemy.

Only God has the power to change our perspective, and it starts with a heart change and what we see. We arrived in New Haven carrying lots of baggage. We didn’t even know it was in our hands or on our backs. Self righteousness, arrogance, elitism, racism, selfishness, and pride blocks our vision, weighs us down, and makes us weary. God continues to expose sin we choose to carry. As we lay those burdens down, we make a u-turn towards God.  He opens our eyes and changes our hearts. We need to see New Haven and the people we serve the way He sees them.  As God gives us vision, we glimpse the beauty He has created all around us. We perceive a city birthed in prayer, a community welcoming all nations, and a people hungry for His love and mercy. We see what He sees and the seeds of empathy are birthed in the soil of our hearts and grow into deeds that transform our community. The 180 Center is a place where God turns lives around. Our prayer forever will be, “God, open our eyes.” Will you join us in this prayer?