The Eyes Have It

Loren Regier

The eyes have great power to communicate. Some of us can still remember how our hearts jumped when the look of love first came our way. Remember the love-look? It was the look from across the room reserved for us or, at least, that was our hopeful interpretation. It was the “I think I found my love of a lifetime” look. The eyes met and lingered for just a longing moment. Ah, what a world of hope was forged in that glance. All your young life you were waiting for “the look”…when your eyes met, your head spun, your heart melted, and your knees buckled. The air was sweeter, birds sang in unison, and even the stones cried out, “She loves me!” All this from just one look. Mutual admiration sparked and still nurtures this look. It continues to be the special look between lovers that says, “I love you and this look is reserved for you.” It should be a look that stays alive as long as your marriage does (you did marry that looker, didn’t you?). There are other looks. All parents have the “look that can kill”- a glare that could stop a train. Teachers have looks that will send any thought of further mischief as far as the east is from the west. These are the “look at me” looks that need no words to translate. They speak to our conscience! “Son, behave now or die a slow and painful death!” The eyes have in their power the ability to send cold chills down the spine of any child delinquent. If you have the ability to stare down misbehavior, you have stopping power that is rooted in your example and authority. I remember once while preaching on grace, my father’s eyes (from the pulpit) caught mine in the pew, and spoke a fiery judgement upon my squirming, reckless behavior. Though his voice spoke grace, his eyes flamed another message that I knew would receive full explanation when I got home! My spirit was already crushed by the time I got in the car. I had been met by the jury of Dad’s eyes. There are also looks of admiration. I am told of a time when General Robert E. Lee rallied a rag-tag contingent of weary Confederate soldiers by surprising them with a visit. Quickly, they mustered to assembly. They dragged themselves out of cold tents on bloodied feet and stood to attention as he rode his famed white horse up and down the lines. Without a word, the great General nodded at them approvingly and then rode off. In the silence that followed, one of the soldiers broke rank, turned and faced his compatriots and blurted out, “Because of what General Lee has just said, we must go on!” The General hadn’t spoken a word.