Can you see?

Can you “see”?

One of the definitions of the word “sight” is what our range of vision allows us to see. I think that’s fascinating. Quite often when teaching, I’ll ask can you “see” that? What we “see” is governed by what we want to see sometimes. Have you ever noticed when driving somewhere, you just seem to get there? You probably couldn’t tell me the color of the car you were behind most of the way, you probably couldn’t remember who was sitting next to you in that traffic, you wouldn’t remember much about your journey from here to there because you’re thinking about what you have to take care of when you arrive, or the things you have to do later, or whether or not you took care of what the kids needed…the list goes on. Honestly, I’ve been in meetings with people, one on one, and my mind is thinking about what I have to do after my meeting. I’m not “seeing” the person in front of me. I’m missing an opportunity to speak into their life, to listen to their life, to just be present and see what maybe I need to glean from them. 

How many times have you gone into the grocery store and you don’t even remember the name of the cashier. You didn’t notice them. You didn’t see them. Maybe the waitress when you went to eat…did you catch her name? Did you see her face? Did she look like she had something weighing on her heart? Did you see her? I’m as guilty as anyone. I can get so “me” focused that I forget to “see” others. I forget the world has more people in it than just me, myself and I. I can forget that my mission in this world if I claim to follow Jesus, is to be light and salt to others. To see others through his eyes. To hear others with his heart. To encourage them with his love. 

Jesus was amazing at “seeing” people. When his ministry began, when he was choosing his team. He didn’t go for the heavy hitters. He “saw” those that had been overlooked. He saw a tax collector that nobody liked. He saw two fishermen in their boats that weren’t chosen to follow their Rabbi. He saw Zacheus up in the tree. He saw the woman at the well. He saw the woman about to be stoned. He saw the lepers. He saw the criminal on the cross next to him. He saw the woman with the bleeding disorder. He saw the invisible people. He gave them value by noticing them. 

You see our mission, does not have to be some formal mission trip. It can be and there’s beauty in that. But we can be on mission everyday by just being aware of those around us. We live everyday surrounded by people everywhere. Can we just be a little more purposeful about who they are? What’s their story? We don’t have to shove Jesus down people’s throat, we can be Jesus in the world. Jesus approached people in love. Jesus just noticed them. He listened to them. He ate with them. He healed them. He did life with them. How many times do you think someone asks the cashier at the grocery store about their day? Or the hostess that seats you at a restaurant, could you just be aware of their presence? Could you let them know you see them? Just by asking their name and using it, you’re personalizing the experience. You’re letting them know they matter. 

If we are to follow Jesus’ example of being in this world, our mission is not about us, it’s about Him. It’s about bringing His light to others. It’s about being in community and loving others well. It’s about forgetting about the million things we have to do by tomorrow and listening to one thing that is troubling someone today. It’s about rejoicing with others about their triumphs and sharing in their grief when there is tragedy. It’s about being collective instead of singular. Jesus didn’t come into the world and singlehandedly change it, although He had the power to do it. He came into the world to create community so that when He left us physically, the mission would continue. Are you ready to do your part? Can we pray for eyes to see and ears to hear, can we pray for a heart that longs to bring fire to others?