Being Seen

When situations get tough, waters get rough, challenges come, and it's easier to withdraw and hunker down, how do others see us? Truly see us... Being seen matters in those moments. A fellow human being stepping into your world to check on you...to make sure you're okay...to encourage you...to pray with you...to tell you you're missed...cherished...important...can go a long way to helping you in being seen...knowing that you are seen.

Rather than falling into the "out of sight, out of mind" mentality that so often litters the days, months, and years of our lives, wouldn't it be better to know that you are lovingly seen, kindly cared for, attentively checked on? The world is a hard place, full of mishaps, hurts, trials, and valleys, yet knowing that there is another person, a fellow church member, a loyal friend, reaching out to you, keeping you in their prayers, making sure you are still fighting for peace makes a significant mark on the life you live.

Being seen should be what each of us is. Each of us should be able to say, "I'm seen. Mary noticed that I hadn't been in church or to Bible study in months. She decided to make sure to check on me because she wasn't sure if anyone else had. She was very surprised to find out that no one else had checked on me in that time. But now she knows and she has been my greatest prayer warrior since. She saw me. I'm so thankful."

Each of us should be able to say, "I'm seen. My family is making an effort to see me and do things with me regularly."

"I'm seen. I was struggling with anxiety, but my friends rallied around me and encouraged me and made me feel heard and loved."

"I'm seen. I was having trouble making friends, coming out of my shell, sharing my deep-down thoughts and feelings. My mom and dad sat down and talked to me; they asked questions and really listened for my answers, wanting to know my heart and me better. Now, we talk at least once a week about the things happening in my life and heart."

"I'm seen. I was going to Bible study pretty regularly, but then some stuff happened in my life and I couldn't go for several weeks. One of the men reached out to me and asked if I wanted to go for coffee. We did and now I have a regular prayer time with him. As a husband, my wife  and children need me to lead them and this time with another husband and father helps me be able to do that."

Are you seen? Are you seen in some areas of your life but not others? It is genuinely meaningful to be seen. As a Christian, I need to examine how well I am seeing others. I need to be aware of people in my life, especially those in my own home, that need me to see them...to hear them. I have had times in my life when I have not been seen. It's hard to know that I am "out of sight, out of mind." If you are in a church body, a family, a group of some sort that you've been a part of for a long time, and you notice that someone has gone "missing," please reach out to them. Check on them. Invite them for coffee (if they're up to it), go for a walk with them (if they're up to it), go and sit with them, bring them food, send them a note, pray for them, leave them a voice text, do something so they know they are seen. If you have been unseen, you know the pain of it, the hurt, the confusion... Step up and reach out and bring those around you back into the circle of your love, care, and kindness.

The church body needs to do this for their people. When one of their own drops off the radar, someone should find out why. A church is like a big family...if a family member has been absent from events, from fellowship, from gatherings, would you just ignore that situation or would you reach out? I see a hole that needs to be filled. A gap that needs to be addressed. Sometimes the reaching can't be done by the "missing," "absent" person, sometimes (oftentimes) it needs to be done by someone on the "inside" of the church or the family. I think that there is room for improvement in this area. A plan of action to put into motion.

Take time to look around you...look at the people in your life...start in your own home and work outward from there. Does your spouse need to be seen? Does one or more of your children need to be seen? Does your parent need to be seen? Does your friend need to be seen? Does your neighbor, coworker, boss, cousin, best friend's sister's grandmother need to be seen? If any of them need you to see them, start a list of ways that you can actively see them and act on the list. Do not make the list and then put it in a drawer...never to be looked at again. Instead, pick one thing to do today - pray. Then pick something to do tomorrow or this weekend and continue to work your way through your lists. "Your" people will be glad to know that they are seen (and heard...and cared for). To know that they matter to you.

If you are currently not being seen somewhere, please lift this up in prayer to God. Our Abba Father cares more than we can ever truly imagine about us. He created us. Humans (including us) are flawed. Mistakes are made, people are overlooked, misunderstandings occur. Forgiveness can happen. It may be hard, but it is possible. If your heart is thirsty to be seen, take a long look at and ponder Psalm 33:11-15. You are seen! I am seen! God sees us! I pray that the eyes of those around you will be opened, that they will see you and find a way to let you know that they see you.

I pray we all become more aware of those around us and that we find ways to see others. And I pray that those of us that are not being seen will be seen again and relationships can be rebuilt where possible.