A teacher walking in the classroom noticed two students in heated argument; he intervened to find out why. One kid was quoting his father emphasizing to look forward is important. The other also quoting his father arguing to look back is important. Let’s name the students ‘back’ and ‘forward’. The wise teacher made them both write their points why and what they are saying is important. The other children were having fun and now expecting to hear even more arguments.
Soon ‘back’ & ‘forward’ finished writing and the teacher asked them to exchange their written notes. They were asked to carefully read, understand and look what content of the other can be used with ones’ own point of view. The one who can do this is smarter than the other.
In some time the two boys were ready and came in front of the class to prove their smartness. First to speak was ‘forward’ he said “having to look back I must learn not to regret, hence my going forward will happen with greater hope”. He continued “moving forward sometimes confuses, but looking back one gets to see memories and how far one has travelled”.
Next to speak was ‘back’ who said “when I get to look back, I get to know how much I have to correct moving forward. If I do not see clarity looking back what appeared as difficulties and overcoming them going forward, I will not realise the blessings. The teacher clapped and announced both winners and equally smart.
The teacher writing on the board ‘CAN THE LOOK IN THE LOOKING BETTER’ then goes on to explain. ‘Yes it can’. These two boys did what we all must do. They had an argument but when they attempted to understand each other’s perspective it changed their way to look at things. Both had reasonable points of the other to adopt.
A basic truth, when two people love each other they don’t look at each other; they look in the same direction. You may not love the other, there can be differences but common grounds must be approached and concluded, gracefully with maturity.
The teacher went on to say look means to direct one's gaze towards someone or something or in a specified direction. In a deeper context it is also to think of or regard in a specified way. This look in looking is what humanity needs to better.
The new generation often fails to realise - parents make it look easy, doesn’t mean that it was. As children the look in realizing their sacrifices, brings about gratitude for parents and one then reciprocates with love, care and respect.
The word peace exists and theoretically the meaning is known to all globally, but in our actions its presence is forever in threat. We have to look at new concepts, definitions and commitments to bring about changes, beginning with the human behavior. Burning a neighbors' house down doesn’t make your house look any better.
Look at everything as though you were seeing it for the first time or the last time and your time on earth will be filled with glory. Looking in all directions is worthwhile; up for inspiration, down in desperation or sideways for information but looking at things in its beauty is the first step of purifying the mind.
A proud person is far too busy looking down on others, they just cannot humble themselves to look up at God and value His creations.
As kids we would look up often and easy, just to smile and say ‘I know it was you God thank you……., a look not seen often and easy nowadays.
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