We Become what We Behold

The theologian Willam Blake said, “They become what they behold.” That’s an interesting thought, isn’t it… We become what we behold.

Buddhist teachings tell us that, in essence, our lives are, what we give our attention to.

What do we give our attention to? What are we beholding? What are we meditating on?

To be fair, it is rarely that simple. I don’t know about you, but if I sit still even for a few moments, there are all kinds of thoughts going on in my headspace: We’re thinking about children, maybe grandchildren, we’re worried about school or work, the test next week, the project due, the upcoming doctor’s appointment, the diagnosis. Or, any number of other immediate pressing concerns. It’s all up there, constantly…

But then, of course, there are those things that may be getting an inordinate amount of our attention…

A few months ago, I shared with you that a friend was feeling all this stress and anxiety about our country and politics and the world around us. In fact, he was so overwhelmed that he wasn’t sleeping. And he just decided, I am going to fast from cable network news for three weeks… And you know what, it totally worked. He said, his stress level went way down…

There is no doubt we absorb the stress. And maybe our bodies subconsciously think that by staying constantly alert, constantly informed that we’re actually doing something… And we internalize it, don’t we?

At the very least, it is worth asking, what are we beholding? What are we taking in? What are we giving our attention to, most often? Maybe even, what are we missing?

Today, I’m leaving you with a verse from Philippians as a prescription. Write it out. Place it somewhere where you will see it often: on your refrigerator, on your bedside table, use it as a bookmark. Meditate on it. Memorize it if you will. And do it.

“…whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

Let us pray: God of hope, in the midst of all the coarseness and noise of modern life, help us to be mindful of what our souls are absorbing… Give us eyes to see blessing and beauty. And grant us hearts to give you praise. In Christ’s name. Amen.