I’m a metaphor kind of guy. I love ’em. I use ’em every time it makes sense, and it makes sense almost all the time. For instance…one time back in 1983 I wrote a song about trying to help someone see more clearly and understand the world around them. I used the metaphor “turn your eyes on”.

Of course, there’s no quick an easy light switch to anyone’s understanding. Would that it were so…but then we’d be no more than robots…but I digress.

It’s ironic how often we can so clearly see how to solve someone else’s problems while at the same time pushing our own out of the spotlight and onto the back burner. Have you ever tried to help someone with their problem…even though they didn’t ask for your help? If so, how did that turn out? Not so good?

We shouldn’t always be so quick to jump in with advice, yet…we should never seal ourselves off to the hurting of others…even when they seem to prefer we didn’t notice. So, there’s a bit of a tightrope to walk. And that’s why seeking wisdom should be the principal goal of every human being.

OK…this article is a bit deeper and shaded than I’d first intended, but I sort of let my thoughts travel where they might as I read the lyrics to that song I mentioned earlier. It materialized about the middle of January in 1983. I was in the last throes of a rocky relationship, and emotions ran the gamut. In the middle of the turmoil I wrote a song about it, kept it to myself, and never made a decent recording of it. But since it’s one I’m considering revamping, I thought I’d share the words with you. See if you detect the subtle nudging I used in the metaphors…

Turn Your Eyes On

You’ve got a soul but you don’t know where it is.
You’ve got a heart that’s almost breaking.
You’ve got a mind to end it all and start again
And maybe lose that awful aching…
But it’s an awful chance you’re taking.

I think the brightest days are somewhere up ahead.
I think the time will be worth waiting.
I know it’s hard to see beyond the way you feel,
But you must stop your senseless hating
And look ahead anticipating.

Turn your eyes on…face the world around you.
Turn your eyes on…don’t let your dreams surround you.
Turn your eyes on…keep your fingers snappin’.
Turn your eyes on…someday you’ll make it happen.

The time will come when you’ll look at this and laugh.
You’ll wonder just what you were thinking.
But now you have to get a grip and face the world
And keep your better side from shrinking…
And keep your puzzle pieces linking.

© 1983 Tony Funderburk

In Faith, Hope, and Love”