Peek-a-boo is one of the first games that toddlers come to understand, followed by hide-and-seek. How it thrills them with delight to be "discovered" by the adult in the room. As I was making my way to the car after a very long day, a tall young man screamed, "Hey Miss, do you remember me?" I assured him that I did, but at that moment, his name was lost in the blur of the many years that had passed since he left the doors of my classroom. He clarified..."I mean do you remember MY NAME?" He reminded me that he was one of three brothers that I had taught and that he probably didn't make "enough trouble" to stand out. That comment made me more determined and I was finally able to spit out the correct name. I am excellent with faces, but names are my Achilles' heel. He thanked me and told me that I had made him feel respected; this moment was pivotal in shaping his self-worth.
In contrast to my faltering attempt, God knows each one of us by name and has the hairs of our head numbered. Every person on the planet desires to be fully known and understood. In John 3:16, when God declares His everlasting love for humanity, in essence, He is saying, "I SEE YOU." Perhaps you thought that you needed to do something dramatic to stand out and win God's approval but His love is unconditional and you are fully known. Slowly but surely, the masks have been coming off at our campus and I have had the opportunity to see the unique faces of each student. It was a sobering moment when I realized that the whole year had gone by with eye contact as my entire frame of reference for facial recognition. It's a beautiful thing to know that you matter and that you are singled out by name. Your Father loves you in spite of your flaws.
How often do we identify people by the tasks they perform rather than by name? We may refer to the "maintenance person" or the "cleaning lady." I have recommended my "nail technician" to others. Zacchaeus was known as the "crooked tax collector" but the day that he climbed a tree to see Jesus, he was seen as a human being in need of a savior. Personal connection requires inconvenience and hard work. As summer winds down and schools prepare to open their doors, I can't think of a better time to be intentional and see the things that other people would rather ignore. The "student" has a story and the "problem neighbor" might be fighting a battle that would bring the best of us to our knees. I used to sing an old Dottie Rambo song called, "He Looked Beyond My Faults" and the message still resonates today. Think of the doting parent who beams at a child, ignoring obvious flaws.
Pastor Darrell Owens at CRCC preached a sermon on Mephibosheth that I will never forget. He explained that King David broke with royal protocol to show kindness to the most unlikely candidate. Mephibosheth had been dropped as a child through no fault of his own and this had changed the trajectory of his life; his mindset was that of a crippled beggar rather than royalty. So many hurting people display a Mephibosheth complex and unbecoming behavior. It is so easy to judge when you don't consider the backstory. Today, I challenge you to notice the need and acknowledge the person behind the behavior. You know, the silent one hiding in the back of your classroom with the hoodie on, Or the louder one with a flourishing public ministry that hides private pain. Be intentional and take the time to listen. Make room at your table. Ask about the limp. You just might save a life!
Genesis 16:13 (VOICE)
As a result of this encounter, Hagar decided to give the Eternal One who had spoken to her a special name because He had seen her in her misery. Hagar: I’m going to call You the God of Seeing because in this place I have seen the One who watches over me.
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