Give Me a Love for Humanity

"Give Me Your Eyes," a song by Brandon Heath, has been playing in my mind much of the day.  I've listened to this song on my favorite radio station so often, but today some of the words seeped more deeply into the longings of my heart.

The song writer writes of the confusion and chaos of people in this world, then asks himself, "Are those people going somewhere?  Why have I never cared?"

We can get so caught up in our self-centered lives that we become blind to the pain of others.  We can become so overwhelmed by our own troubles that we don't take the time to sincerely pray for the people we see around us.  How often do we realize that each and every one carries a cross, sometimes hidden from the rest of the world? 

Sometimes their crosses are revealed to us, but we still hesitate to pray for them for various reasons.  Perhaps it's someone who hasn't treated us very well in the past?  Someone who has spread rumors or believed in the slander of our person?  Someone who has abused us in some way?

Personally, I find it easier to pray for a stranger than for someone who has hurt me or someone I care about.  I confess I don't always want things to go well for certain people, and I hang my head in sadness and plead that I will become more like Jesus.

When Jesus was suffering excruciating pain on the cross to save us from death and agony, He still looked around Him and cared, even for those who were driving in the nails and taunting Him.  For those who stripped Him of His dignity.  For those who hated Him with a passion.  He still cried, "Father, forgive them..."

Our sins just as surely crucified Jesus as the hands who physically drove in those nails.  We have just as much a part in abusing Jesus as anyone, in disgracing Him to the lowest of the lowest.  And yet He still looks right at us and prays for us.

Oh, to have a heart of love like Jesus!  The words repeated in the chorus of Brandon Heath's song ripple the deep longings of my innermost being:
"Give me Your eyes for just one second
Give me Your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me Your love for humanity
Give me Your arms for the broken hearted..."

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Music can often touch us in a personal way.  Reader, do you have a song that has deeply touched you?  Will you share it with us?