Last summer, a few months into Covid, my eyes started itching. Soon, little dry red patches appeared around them. In terms of connecting my body to my mind and heart, it didn’t take me long to wonder whether I was irritated with what I saw inside myself. There was lots not to like—the way I was letting our kids be on screens, the way I was drinking wine every single night, the way I was short-tempered with others and myself.
But I couldn’t summon up the energy to pray about it. Instead, I went to the dermatologist. She told me my condition was associated with stress and prescribed an eye cream that alleviated the itching. She and I both knew the cream was a bandaid that didn’t address the root of the problem.
It’s almost a year later, and I still have little flare-ups. I still use that eye cream. But I also take my red, itchy eyes as an invitation to pray. I pray for the ability to see what God sees when I look at myself. I pray that I can learn to see myself with radical acceptance, love, grace, and compassion instead of judgment.
Body Focus: Eyes
The eye represents both what we see inside ourselves and what we are afraid other people might see about us.
Bible Verse:
For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in faithfulness to you. (Psalm 26:3)
Prayer:
What prayer could I bring to my body?
Help me see what you see.
Help me see others in light of your love.
Help me see myself in light of your love.
If you’re new to body prayer or want to read more body prayers in this series, go here.
Learn more with Amy Julia:
If you haven’t already, you can subscribe to receive regular updates and news. You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, and Goodreads, and you can subscribe to my Love Is Stronger Than Fear podcast on your favorite podcast platforms.
This Post Has 2 Comments
Thank you for the guidance in advance.
I sometimes see an eye when am praying, I also see shadows as if a person just passed by me. Am not afraid of either and always ask God to tell me if it’s him. I recently ask a person who is profedic to tell me why I keep seeing an eye and shadows. She said that, I carry an evil eye from my past dealings with witchcraft and the shadows are demonic. Her answer sounded somehow wrong but I can’t truly discard it.
Help me please.
Thanks for sharing this experience. I think it’s important to pay attention to what our bodies/minds/spirits are communicating to us and to ask the Spirit of God to help us discern what’s going on. Do you have any other people you could pray with about this concern? It’s helpful to have more than one other voice in any discernment process, as most things could be interpreted in multiple ways. The fact that you think there’s something off about what she said is worth paying attention to. And of course you can bring the question to God yourself, but again I think doing that with some other people would be the best way forward.