Community Leader
Fear not, for God will be unto us a helper, a mariner, and a pilot. May God do unto us his servants and his little vessel as he willeth.
- Saint Brendan
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All-Seeing Eye
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The all-seeing eye first and foremost represents God. In particular, the all-seeing eye points to the attribute of God known as omniscience, or all-knowingness. It reminds us that God watches the goings-on of earth and is aware of all that we do. In one sense, this reminds us to mind our actions, since none of our actions, good or evil, are unknown to God. "The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good." (Proverbs 15:3) On the other hand this reminds us that there are no needs that we have of which God is unaware. God knows our needs even before we ask, and can be trusted to supply them. "The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry." (Psalm 34:15) The all-seeing eye therefore also indicates God's sovereignty and providence.
The all-seeing eye is usually depicted emitting rays of light reminiscent of sunbeams. As a source of illumination, the sun enables us to see objects and therefore to begin to understand their nature and purpose. This reminds us that such knowledge as we may gain is owed in part to the influence of God, who opens our eyes to see and perceive and understand creation. "The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge." (Proverbs 22:12a) In connection with this, the all-seeing eye refers to truth, since to see and understand a thing is to know something of its truth (Hebrew, Emet) or its ultimate purpose or meaning. The all-seeing eye is also associated with reason, which is a means by which we arrive at the knowledge of truth.
The all-seeing eye also, however, warns us of the danger of judging by superficial appearances only. The pictogram of the sixteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, Ayin, is an eye. One of the meanings associated with this is that superficial appearances can be deceptive. The all-seeing eye therefore challenges us to spiritually see things as they truly and deeply are, that is, as they are seen by God, and not merely as they appear on the surface.
A final association of the all-seeing eye is that of intuition, insight, or inner knowing, that "sixth sense" or perception of knowledge that goes beyond sensory experience.
The all-seeing eye is usually depicted emitting rays of light reminiscent of sunbeams. As a source of illumination, the sun enables us to see objects and therefore to begin to understand their nature and purpose. This reminds us that such knowledge as we may gain is owed in part to the influence of God, who opens our eyes to see and perceive and understand creation. "The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge." (Proverbs 22:12a) In connection with this, the all-seeing eye refers to truth, since to see and understand a thing is to know something of its truth (Hebrew, Emet) or its ultimate purpose or meaning. The all-seeing eye is also associated with reason, which is a means by which we arrive at the knowledge of truth.
The all-seeing eye also, however, warns us of the danger of judging by superficial appearances only. The pictogram of the sixteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, Ayin, is an eye. One of the meanings associated with this is that superficial appearances can be deceptive. The all-seeing eye therefore challenges us to spiritually see things as they truly and deeply are, that is, as they are seen by God, and not merely as they appear on the surface.
A final association of the all-seeing eye is that of intuition, insight, or inner knowing, that "sixth sense" or perception of knowledge that goes beyond sensory experience.
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