Somebody’s watching you in the state of Oregon… or, at least it might feel that way. In the city of Bend, there’s been an outbreak of googly eyes everywhere!
Googly eyes are those fundamental and indispensable craft items that take a piece of simple artwork and make it fun. Or funny. They are those small (or large) plastic pieces that imitate eyeballs. With the loose black disk inside the clear plastic shell, these eyes move and wiggle on whatever they are placed. Also, because of the exaggerated nature of the googly eyes, they make their host look like their eyes are popping in surprise.
Watching an Instagram reel, some guys purchased several hundred googly eyes, went into a store, and stuck the eyes on everything. The placement ideas were remarkable. A simple box of cereal became hilarious to see the main featured character in the artwork with these wiggly, bulging eyes.
In Bend, Oregon, someone thought the local outdoor artwork needed a bit of pizzaz. “On social media, the city shared photos of googly eyes on installations in the middle of roundabouts that make up its so-called “Roundabout Art Route.” One photo shows googly eyes placed on a sculpture of two deer, while another shows them attached to a sphere. It’s not yet known who has been putting them on the sculptures…
“The Facebook post received hundreds of comments, with many users saying they liked the googly eyes. “My daughter and I went past the flaming chicken today and shared the biggest laugh,” one user said, using a nickname for the “Phoenix Rising” sculpture. “We love the googly eyes. This town is getting to be so stuffy. Let’s have fun!”
“Another Facebook user wrote: “I think the googly eyes on the deer specifically are a great look, and they should stay that way.”1
While many residents as well as people across the country love these additions to the
artwork, the Bend city officials aren’t quite as amused. Their comments were taken out of context, and they have since retracted their statements and re-explained their issue. The problem is NOT the “defacing” of the artwork. All of the artwork is intended to be embellished. It’s just that the city has spent $1,500 to remove the googly eyes from seven of the eight art pieces. Googly eyes typically have a sticky backing. The removal has caused sticky residue to be left behind and once it is removed, some of the artwork must be repainted.
If the “Googly Eye Bandits” could figure out some non-harmful way to attach the eyes, everyone, including the city officials, could get a good laugh at a gigantic, hollowed rust-colored iron ball of yarn with two enormous googly eyes, watching you from its vantage point.
There is a verse of Scripture that has always struck me funny that involves the eyes. 2 Chronicles 16:9 says, “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him…” I know that this verse wasn’t intended to be funny. However, after this story about the googly eyes, can’t you picture a pair of googly eyeballs running? Eyes aren’t typically thought of as running and, yet, here we are with this imagery.
All humor aside, the verse is powerful. The Lord’s eyes are searching for those of His faithful followers who need help. God wants to come to their aid. This imagery prompted theologian F.B Meyer to write, “What an exquisite thought is suggested by the allusion to the eyes of the Lord running to and fro throughout the whole earth! At a glance He takes in our position; not a sorrow, trial, or temptation visits us without exciting his notice and loving sympathy. In all the whole wide earth there is not one spot so lonely, one heart so darkened, as to escape those eyes.”
What a watchful, caring God we serve!
Reading the rest of 2 Chronicles 16:9, we also find that this verse provides a reprimand. “Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.” King 
Asa of Judah had turned to King Benhadad of Syria for a protective alliance that required Asa to break ties with King Baasha of Israel. For this, God turned on Asa and rather than receiving protection from the Lord, Asa received punishment.
Today, take joy in knowing that eyes of the Lord are running about the earth, searching for the child of God who is in trouble. The hand of the Lord is ready and available to help. Psalms 50:14-15 reminds us to “Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: (15) And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.”
1https://apnews.com/article/googly-eyes-public-art-sculptures-bend-oregon-2f4fce84569e3b599106199f3b6d66e3
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