(Another photo follows at the bottom of this page.)
Kris Cunningham, who lives in the Republic of Panama, shared a ‘4-Minutes Experiment’ video that greatly affected me. Follow the link, open the video in the largest format possible, get still and very quiet, then select ‘play.’
CONNECTION – By Kris Cunningham
“Do not judge—or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?” Matthew 7:1-4.
Holy Week/Quito Ecuador – “Capes of a Different Color” – Acrylic
What surprised me were the negative comments on the video’s Youtube page. I pondered my own story, one of being embraced by the people of various Latin American countries. I did not have to prove my worth – they accepted me into their communities with amazing trust. Thank goodness they have not judged me based on negative PR regarding the USA, whether it’s caused by a single tourist or the military or our administration.
Sometimes we fill our days with too much chatter, when the best way for two people to communicate is eye to eye — or soul to soul.
(Grinding just-roasted coffee.) Francisca opens her store around 6;30 each morning and closes aroung 9:30 each night. She rarely stops!
Francisca, a hard-working diabetic, tapped on my door late at night to massage my upper-back spasm with a special herbal mixture. 30 minutes later,my back problems were resolved!
‘Abuelita’ – the matriarch of the Sabando family in Jama Ecuador. Earthquake survivor. Mother of 13, many are my friends, and they all make room at their earthquake-shaken outdoor table to add another plate for me.
Thank you again, Kris. You’ve helped my heart to grow larger today.
When this photo was taken, I had never seen this young lad until that moment he walked up to my cabana door. Had I stared into his eyes for four minutes or longer, I doubt if I would have comprehended the seriousness of his heart-wrenching story.
If you missed it, go here: Wisdom 101 – Jama Ecuador
“We should be rigorous in judging ourselves and gracious in judging others.” – John Wesley
Zeebra Designs & Destinations 
I hadn’t seen the video that Kris linked, but I did see a different one in which Europeans and Syrian refugees had a chance to talk with one another. It might have been part of the same project.
That passage from Matthew’s gospel has been getting around recently. It’s in this short paper, too. The context is slightly different, but the point’s the same. I think you’ll enjoy it.
I think I remember that Wesley quotation from my Methodist catechism class. Our teachers emphasized the need to place a “charitable construction” on the words and actions of others, and quoted Wesley ad nauseum — at least in the opinion of a bunch of sixth-graders. Today, I appreciate the lesson far more.
Thanks for the link – I enjoyed that equally- quote, “One shows the faults of others like chaff winnowed in the wind, but one conceals one’s own faults as a cunning gambler conceals his dice. ” (Buddha, The Dhammapada)
Si, there are many things we’re taught in school we cannot truly appreciate until we’ve experienced life and the many facets of our fellow man!
“…On a campus that polices microaggressions, everyone walks on eggshells…” — and that’s definitely not healthy! thanks again for that link…
I love every bit of this post, Lisa! Thank you for the gracious, kind alternative reaction, the photos and the links. It truly helps to put everything in perspective just a bit!
Thank you, Cindy. You represent goodness and are gracious with all that you do, down to sharing happy stories about your cute dogs or your art or your loved ones.
“Do not judge—or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?” Matthew 7:1-4.
So powerfully true~
Thank you, Cindy, and you are one who spreads sunshine. May the week smile on you!
Your posts are like a breath of fresh air in a close, suffocating room. Please keep them coming!!
Thank you, Hugh. If all of you are being bombarded with negative feedback like what I read on the Youtube site, I think it would be hard to stay happy and positive. It’s my pleasure to send smoke signals with happier news.
What a beautiful post! There are many loving people like you who give us hope in these troubled times.
I’m curious about the boy in the last photo, but the link went back to my blog. I found it though. What a story. You are also surrounded by strong and beautiful people, and I hope to have the opportunity to visit one of these days. https://playamart.wordpress.com/2016/12/24/wisdom-101-jama-ecuador/
BTW I restarted my art classes yesterday and it was good to be back.
Thank you, Kris, and my door is always open for you to come visit.
Thanks for bringing my attention to the AWOL link, and for providing that link to others. It’s been updated.
Have fun with your art classes! Congratulations!
Lisa, thanks for sharing this. It was inspirational, to say the least. Keith
‘thank you. I wonder about those people who had such nasty comments on the youtube channel. if that’s what our modern word is becoming, i think i’d better retreat deeper into the cloud forest….
To be honest with you, some folks need to do a little growing up. Well thought out criticism is one thing, being a jerk is another.
Yes, you’re right… but some may never grow up..
Thank you, Lisa. I went to Kris’s blog. Beautiful.
Thank you for reading her post and watching the video. I’m sure it affected you as well.
I think those who commented negatively are those who cannot even look into the mirror! I am not surprised about the result of that experiment. When you look someone into the eyes for at least a minute, you start to see a part of yourself in them. When you look longer, your souls connect. It is amazing! Thank you for sharing this. It is more important than ever these days! We are all human and all having one home: planet earth! One day we will understand to take care of the planet and not only of one country!
si; it’s too bad that there are invisible boundries almost everywhere, not only between two tracts of land that appear to be the ‘same’ on each side… borders between continents, between countries, between states/provinces/parishes/towns/neighborhoods/universities/even between neighbors… way too many boundaries that often = “ego.” Yes, there are moral codes and boundaries that deal with respect for others… it gets complicated!
That’s true! It is complicated because we make it complicated. Because we think that there are specific conditions which have to be fulfilled for whatever! If we just let be what is and accept and actually appreciate all the things that make everyone unique we would start from a completely new perspective. Instead of honoring what is similar, honoring the uniqueness which makes us one!
They say ‘the eyes are the mirror of the soul’, and for me so much communication is done with the eyes. Sometimes there is instant connection with someone, a direct meeting of souls! Some have dead eyes – as though the soul is lost and hopeless, some eyes sparkle with life, love and enthusiasm. We should always look into the eyes of the individual rather than judging him/her by clothes, color, creed, or anything else. Or by being influenced by negative PR.
What a brilliant post and video! Thanks Lisa 🙂
Thanks for adding your feedback, and yes, the eyes often tell it all. It’s interesting to look at a photo of a ‘couple’ smiling, then cover the eyes and look at the smiles.. then cover the smiles and look at the eyes.. Once I did that to a beautiful Easter image of a beautiful family, and I said to myself, “Those parents detest each otherr..” I wasn’t surprised a few months later when I heard they were divorcing.
Thanks again for your feedback!
It was a very thought-provoking post!
How I’ve enjoyed this post and your commenters, Lisa! We need all the generosity of spirit we can get in these divisive and divided days…
Thank you Anne! Yes, these are challenging times, and one never knows what new world ‘surprise’ will be next.
I hope that you’re feeling stronger!
I frequently remind myself of the verses from Matthew. Thanks for this post.
thank YOU for confirming there are lots of kind sensitive people to balance against the not-so kind ones. i loved your post featuring all of those lovely knitted caps… the smiles and goodness in each person’s face were amazing..
I didn’t see the YouTube comments, Lisa, but I don’t know how anyone could watch this video without tears. The 2 youngsters finished me off! We start out so accepting when we are small. What happens to it?
I read about eight or ten and stopped in disgust… I’ll tip back over and scan then again …
Yes, it’s a very powerful video, and I don’t know what happens that makes 0people so sour and bitter.
I watched a little of the video until it froze, but did read the post that was linked. It is a good lesson in seeing beyond the words and perceptions. I have traveled quite a bit and stayed in certain countries for months and have never once felt anything but welcome and warmth from the people living in those countries. Only once in Germany did I feel uneasy due to belligerent Syrian men. They were “guests” in that country, but walked the streets like disrespectful thugs. Sad.
Yes, there are people who represent each country well.. and there are others who show the worst…
Thanks for reading Kris’s post and for watching the video — ha, sounds like your connection is like the ones here… frustrating to watch any video — i try to load them while reading other posts/emails, and then hope they’ll play without freezing or dragging… Bob at PiranCafe shared a story today abut the documentary 4.-something miles – a sobering clip..
thankfully we have the solace of nature to balance against so much that’s wrong in our world.
Thank you for sharing this post and video Lisa. Tomas and I experienced this kind of connection all the time in Morocco. People would get right in our face when they spoke to us. Their presence while being with us was complete and startling at first but we quickly got used to it. We realized how much connection was missing with “the folks back home.”
We returned to the US determined to bring this quality of connection back to those we love. The residents of our Community are choosing to play at this level of quality of connection. It’s amazing to do life with other people who truly want to see us and be seen by us. The meme “I see you?” from the movie “Avatar” is being played out in many places in the world. Kris has captured the essence of these connections.
Many blessings for nurturing the authentic relationships in your part of the world, Alia
Thank you, Alia, for two amazing comments! Wow!
Yes, it’s nice when we can combine the best of different cultures and hope that everyone evolves with less selfishness and more kindness and tolerance.
Unfortunately there are so many horrible things happening… Bob at PiranCafe shared this one, which was so saddening….
https://www.pirancafe.com/2017/01/25/watch-4-1-miles-short-documentary-oscar-nominee/
Thanks for sharing, it was a Wonderful Read!!
Please also check my blog http://fireinyoursoul.in/2017/02/15/fire-in-your-soul/