| Garden of the Heart |
Chapter 4 |
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When Simon was introduced to Him, Jesus looked upon him intently and said: “Thou art Simon… thou shalt be called Peter.” He saw the best in the old fisherman. Nobody else saw in him what Jesus saw. Other people saw only uncouthness, an over measure of self confidence, a sort of rugged but undisciplined strength, rashness, impulsiveness, a certain coarseness and rudeness. Nobody saw in Simon of the fishing boat anything great or beautiful. But Jesus saw in him large possibilities, elements of power, all that he man afterward became. In the rough, impetuous Simon He saw the firm strong, and masterful Peter of the apostolic days.
Jesus always saw the best in every man or woman. He saw the possible good there was in the publican, Levi, under all his greed and dishonesty, and called him to be one of His friends. He saw the vision of a white soul in the outcast woman who lie at His feet, and spoke to her words of mercy and hope which saved her. He saw the good waiting to be brought out in every one who came into His presence.
There is something good in every life. Some people never see anything beautiful in any other one. They see, instead, the faults, the blemishes, the follies, the frailties. They see these lacks and flaws because that is what they are looking for. So long as we look upon people in this hopeless way, we cannot do anything to make them better. We must have an eye for the best that is in men, and be able to find beauty and good in every life, if we would inspire them to reach their best.
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