I love the beauty of God’s creation, and can’t get enough of it. We recently walked through a large flea market and I found my niche in a small corner of one of the shops. Someone had cut knots off of trees to hang on the wall, and I just loved them as they were part of God’s beautiful handiwork.

The next day I was thinking about them. I know God wants us to enjoy His creation, but He impressed upon me what He sees as His most magnificent masterpiece. It’s not the mountains, oceans, trees, flowers, animals, birds, or even the natural wonders of the world. God considers us, mankind, as His crowned jewel and treasured possession.

We read in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago” (NLT). Of all His creation, God calls people His masterpiece.

I also thought about how I have been looking at God’s masterpiece for the last couple of years. I used to look at people as I passed them and really see them. I used to look them in the eyes and smile at them. I would notice if they looked sad or in pain, and I would silently pray for them.

But all that has changed for me in the last couple years. And I know that I am not the only one who sees people that we pass by differently. When we had to start wearing the masks, I still tried to look at people, to look them in the eyes. But it became harder and harder to do that, as smiling eyes began to be suspicious eyes filled with fear and mistrust.

Eventually I stopped looking at the mass of masked humanity, averting my eyes and keeping my distance as we were told. We ultimately stopped seeing people and started seeing possible enemies who might be the one to infect us with a killer disease that might take our lives or the lives of our loved ones.

We also had to start seeing masks in a new light. Masks only used to be worn by criminals. The first time my grandson saw his mother put on a bandana as a mask to go into a store, he was very upset because he said they would think she was a robber and arrest her. We’ve had to get used to a lot of changes in the last couple years.

You might say I think too much. Maybe so. But now I’m realizing I have to make some changes and give people back their humanity, whether in a mask or not. For somewhere along the way, I lost that. I need to start looking people in the eyes again, and smiling at them again. I need to start seeing them and acknowledging them as God’s prized possession whom He created for a purpose.

Many people suffer from anxiety now, and find it hard to go into public and to be around other people. With God’s help, we can get beyond this, and stop seeing others as the enemy. We can begin to look at others again, and see them, and notice their struggles. For we are all struggling, and we’ve got to begin somewhere to bring humanity back. So, Lord, let it begin with me.

Hope Ministries is a Christian counseling center, and we are here to help. If you would like to speak confidentially with someone, give us a call at 845-482-5300.