What Are You Looking At?

A man and a woman walked past my mom’s candy store where I worked on Saturday. The woman’s gaze swept longingly over all of the chocolate. The man laughed and in a boisterous voice shouted out to her:

“You just lookin’ at pounds, girl. That’s all you lookin’ at.”

“Oh hush,” she said. “I’m just lookin’.”

“Like pastor said on Sunday,” he kept on, “Your eyes are connected to your brain. Where you look, you gonna go.”

He was right. Five minutes later, much to her own chagrin, she left the shop with a pound of fudge.

* * * * *

This picture of Sam is currently the wallpaper photo on my cell phone. It came at the end of the most stressful day of our four-month trip. At the point I took this picture we were getting close to Yellowstone, came around a corner, and this view of the Grant Teton mountain range took away my power to blink.

The other kids were in the back of the bus, but as usual Sam had been paying close attention to the landscape. When Maile and I walked outside to take some photos, he was right behind us, his stockinged feet walking lightly over the gravel. He marched up to the edge of the pull-off area, crossed his arms, and stared at the mountains.

When I look at the picture now, I realize the truth behind the man’s words at the candy store today. There’s no way I could have spent many days staring at those mountains without deciding to go there. Eventually I would have had to rent a kayak, cross the water, and start climbing.

Where you look, you gonna go.

* * * * *

What are you stealing glances at?

What are you dwelling on?

What are you reading?

What are you watching?

Where you look, you gonna go.

* * * * *

““It is what you read when you don’t have to that determines what you will be when you can’t help it.” Oscar Wilde

11 Replies to “What Are You Looking At?”

  1. I find myself considering if I could use this to my advantage. I have a goal that I just can’t seem to make progress towards (lots of reasons I’m sure). How could I break through the barrier by using this principle for good ……………?
    Great thought to ponder on so many levels today Shawn. Thanks!

    1. Yes, Donna, that’s the challenge. Use this principle for the good. Start looking at the mountaintop, the life you want to live.

  2. Sorry, but JESUS said that over 2000 years ago–Matthew 6:21 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

    1. You don’t have to be sorry about it. Most of the topics I write about have some sort of Biblical root to them.

  3. If that quote at the end holds true, I think I won’t be able to help being a dragon… or a magic-user of some variety. Now, doesn’t that sound fun?

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