Infinite Worth: Part 1: Invisible (See Me)

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Howdy! I've written a lot of unpublished posts lately, and the intro is always the hardest part. Once I get the ball rolling, the post writes itself. I'm pretty sure that's God's doing. He's the boss. I just write what He's telling me. I honestly thing these posts come out exactly when they need to, for you all and for me. And maybe sometimes I write only for myself. I feel like that's been happening a lot lately. But in the hopes that this will one day make it to you all, I'm writing this intro.

So tonight I'm starting the first post in a new series about the dignity and worth of every person. I know I've talked about it before, but this series will hopefully be a little different. It's all about truly seeing people, and seeing them as God does. Tonight is about seeing those who often go unnoticed. Or seeing those who don't see themselves. Enjoy!

There. That seems long enough. But you know, sometimes things aren't what they seem. Sometimes people say they're fine, and they're really not. I've seen that too many times, and it really eats at my heart. And so tonight wanted entertains you with...

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Infinite Worth:

Invisible: I Just Want to Be Seen

It's 8:30pm, and we've been in the restaurant for over an hour now. We ordered an hour earlier, and our food still hasn't gotten there. We finally get a hold of a waitress, and she says she'll get right on it. Turned out the food had been ready for a long time, they had just forgotten about us. Some of it had even gone cold, or wasn't fully cooked. The manager completely ignored us, and we ended up having to do something else for dinner. My family is invisible. It's ironic because we're all so tall, and not exactly quiet. But things like this happen to my family, and to me, all the time.

They say don't sweat the small things, and I really try not to. But sometimes there comes a point when the small things become a big thing. When every day you say hello to people, and they don't even acknowledge you. When you ask someone a question and they either don't hear you or don't bother to answer. When you're in a crowded room full of friends and it's like you're not even there. Now individually none of these are anyone's fault. I'm just as guilty at all of these as anyone else. But when they happen to you all the time, they start grating away at your soul. When someone else ALWAYS gets the girl. Or the girl never saw you that way. When, even among people you know, you feel unseen. Being invisible is tough.

I don't bring up all of that for pity, or even for acknowledgement. I bring it up because I know that I'm not the only one. I know that I'm loved, even if I don't always feel it. I know that I'm seen, even if I'm not always acknowledge. But some people don't have that. They are invisible, like me, but they are never seen. They are alone. Or at least they think they are. And they don't know how much they matter yet.

It took me forever to know that I wasn't invisible. Sometimes I still feel that way. When you're constantly overlooked, even when people don't do it on purpose, it's tough to keep you're head on straight. It took years of God working on my heart and preparing me for the love that He wanted to give me for me to get to this point (see post about accepting God's love). This past summer God blessed me with a group of people beyond my wildest dreams. Through them he finally got through to me that I'm seen, even if I don't feel it. One of them told me this, and I'll never forget it: "Just because your actions don't have an apparent effect, that doesn't make them any lest significant. Just because people don't outwardly glorify something doesn't mean it goes unnoticed." I had thought that because people didn't always acknowledge me, it meant that they weren't seeing me. God revealed to me, through them, this summer that I couldn't have been more wrong. They didn't think they had to say anything. And they didn't.

So many people today believe that they go unnoticed. They believe that they are invisible. They let this weigh on their hearts, and they carry this burden alone. And it brings them down to the ground. But ask them how they're doing, and they'll just say "fine" or "good" or something like that. They don't let you see how much it's actually bugging them. I think part of that is because they want the validation that they are actually seen; that someone can tell that they are wrong (masks, remember?). I do think what my friend told me is true, but I also think that we've got to tell people that. People need to know that they are noticed, even if others don't say it. I think that many MANY hearts can be healed that way.

There are some simple ways to show people that you see them. Ask them how they're doing, and mean it. I'm writing a whole separate blog post just on this topic. Ask "How are you, really?" You have no idea what an impact this can have on those who don't see their own worth. Don't judge. Don't offer to give them advice, just sit there and listen. A priest at my church said it a couple weeks ago. Be ready to be there. After you ask, "be ready to sit there and listen for the next three hours, if that's what it takes." Having someone actually take interest in you can change your entire outlook on life. I CANNOT stress this enough. Second, do small nice things for people, even random strangers. Random acts of kindness, however cliche it may sound, really can change the world. Third, talk to that kid who's alone, or the silent one. Yes, they may just be an introvert, in which case you can walk away and leave them be. But they might just be shy, or yearning for human contact, but again wishing for the validation of being seen.

Sometimes I still have trouble knowing that I'm seen. But even if no reminder comes, I know that God loves me, I know that I matter, and I know that I'm seen. Even if no one says anything, I'm making a difference. You don't always see the rock that causes the ripples in the water. But the ripples spread all over, and the rock is still there, even if no one sees it.

A friend of mine mentioned someone that she thought perfectly exemplified this, and I completely agree: St. Joseph. Here's the man who was chosen to be the Step-father of our Lord. He had to endure public scandal because everyone knew that Jesus wasn't His. He had to live His live as the only member of His family who could sin. I'm sure that was incredibly tough at times. He's barely mentioned in the Bible and yet he had such a profound influence on Jesus as a youth and a young man. Here is the man God chose to protect His son, and watch over Jesus' mother, and we know almost nothing about him. Most of what he did, and the changes he made in their lives will never be known, and yet the echoes of his actions still ripple through the world to this day. Joseph wasn't seen either. And look at what he did. No one could say that wasn't a big deal.

If you're struggling with being seen, remember that there is a Lord who always sees you. Turn to St. Joseph, the selfless servant. And know that you are seen, and do matter, even if it doesn't feel like it.

In the next part I'll talk about seeing yourself as God sees you, and knowing what it means to really see another.
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"I want a moment to be real, wanna touch things I don't feel, wanna hold on and feel I belong"
-I'm Still Here by Jonny Rzesnik

Help others have that moment. See people. Don't let them remain invisible.

Instead of a verse tonight, a thought:
Jesus spent most of His life as a carpenter, working, and living a normal life. He wasn't acknowledged, and lived in relative obscurity, and He is God! Even Jesus Himself wasn't always seen. Bring that trouble to Him. He knows what it's like, and He can help you.

Until Next Time,
Know that I love you and am praying for you!

~Wanted~