You have heard it said that “the eyes are the windows of the soul”. This is to say that by looking into someone’s eyes enables you to see their heart, motives, intentions, feelings, etc. My experience though, is that they are so much more. The eyes are also the mouth of the soul at times, the ears of the soul, and often the hands and feet of the soul.

The eyes are not a one way mirror. We must not gaze at people’s eyes only to read what they think, but to fully understand a myriad of emotion and thought with just a glance. A friend of mine has problems expressing deep opinions and concepts of life without ample time to prepare his thoughts. Sometimes, things are so deep that he cannot at all express his mind, heart, and soul. One such time was today. We had gone out for coffee so that he could convey to me the divine, clarifying moment he had that answered his confusion over a relational issue. He was so blown away, taught, humbled, and guided by this moment that he could not begin to wrap it into a neat package to place in my lap. The entire time he struggled to voice this overwhelming revelation, I watched his eyes. He was looking down at the table as his eyes darted back and forth; the universal psychological sign of attempting to recall or formulate. That was the “windows of the soul” moment. His eyes indicated, upon first glance, anxiety, tension, and frustration. I began to formulate in my mind what he was searching to state; my first thoughts were negative things and unfortunate. Then I glanced deeper.

I wasn’t just peering through the windows of his soul as a passive observer unable to hear or interact with the soul I was viewing, I was there. There was no longer a need for him to properly postulate his provision, I was there in his soul. Through his eyes, I was able to see the intent, but also the form and substance. I could hear the emotion in what would have been his words. I suddenly realized that what I first mistook as anxiety and frustration was actually unbearable peace, paradoxical as that sentiment may be. I sensed undeniable relief and clarity on a deep issue that plagued his psyche for quite some time now. God had truly intervened, it was a straight up prophetical epiphany for my friend. I could hear all this and engage as if I were in his psychosis aiding the search for words.I told him there was no need to speak, his eyes literally conveyed it all. Even more than words could have.

We need to look people in the eye when we talk to them. I don’t mean in the cliche respectful way, but a genuine, engaging way. If we looked people in the eye when we conversed with them, we would drastically diminish the misunderstandings that pervade our culture. Part of this is because we have become so individualistic and isolated we are afraid to learn ourselves and other, thus we simply talk without communicating. We gain knowledge of people and subjects without understanding of them. The other part, is the fear to experience such deep revelation: true communication–truly learning and feeling someone. The even scarier part is in turn, it allows us to learn ourselves. This is true commitment to friendship, companionship, and “human-ship”. We should heed the soul’s ambassador outside each other-the eyes.