That could be seen as a loaded statement, so to speak. However, I mean it in the most literal way possible. Each and every person sees things differently. We see with our eyes and within our eyes, it is the retina that is tasked with sending information to the brain and identifying color. The rods sense size, brightness, and shape. The cones sense details and colors. Every eye is different in terms of the number of rods and cones that it contains and as such the picture of what we see varies. At the very base of what we use our eyes for, sensing the world around us, there are drastic differences.
Therefore, it would make sense that those differences would carry past colors and details into more serious areas of life. The eyes that we have that allow us to perceive contrasts in colors and minute details, also carry the weight of identifying the situations around us. Those situations are then categorized in our brains in terms of importance or necessity. At a glance, we form opinions, make decisions, and often pass judgments. At a glance, we decide to engage in a situation or back away. At a glance, we decide whether or not it is worth it or if we have the time to engage in conversation with the people around us, whether we know them or not.
Tonight, I stumbled upon a quote with no citation that stated, "It would be too easy to say that I feel invisible. Instead, I feel painfully visible, and entirely ignored." If we truly took notice of our lives and actions, I fear that we would find that all too often we look through people instead of at people. We offer a half-smile, head nod, or brief word and then continue on with our lives not impacted or influenced by those miniscule moments.
To feel invisible carries its own weight and burden. To know that you are completely unseen and can move through live without so much as a ripple or glance thrown your way. However, all too often the pain comes not from being invisible, but from being completely ignored or seen but not cared for. In our busy society we are quick to offer small statements such as, "How are you" or "It's good to see you." Then, in that same moment, we give a half-hearted response and push on to the next thing or next person. This type of interaction succeeds only in creating people who are painfully seen and altogether ignored.
It brings to mind the story of the Good Samaritan found in Luke 10:30-37.
30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
Both the priest and the Levite saw the man and chose to completely and totally ignore him regardless of the condition the man was in. They chose to ignore what they saw even to the point of passing by on the other side of the road. The hurting man was not invisible; neither the priest nor the Levite could make that claim since both pointedly moved away from the man. The hurt man was ignored and as such an already difficult circumstance was made worse by the inconsiderate actions of the first two men.
The story goes on to say, however, that a third man appeared. This man went to the dirty, beaten, naked, half-dead man and bandaged his wound, gave him a ride while he walked, took him to an inn, and paid for him to be well taken care of. The Bible is clear in the terms used here that the third man was a Samaritan. This is important because the Jewish people had nothing to do with Samaritans and vice versa. So not only is it that the Samaritan man saw and helped the ignored man, but also that he threw cultural restrictions or rules to wind to do what was right to see the man who was visible but ignored.
Have you ever experienced this feeling - no - this knowing that you are completely seen by others, but wholly uncared for? It is not some fleeting moment, that knowledge can stick to you and resurface at times throughout life. If this is you, please know that you are fully and completely seen. I see you, even if I do not know you. I relate to you. More than my sight though, you are fully seen and fully known by a compassionate and loving God who promises in Deuteronomy 31:6 to never leave you or forsake you. Even if you do not know Him, He knows you.
The flip side of this situation is those of us who go around seeing but ignored. We can no longer claim to be lacking sight. In doing so, we are doing more damage to those who are hurting already. So the next time you find yourself giving a brief head nod, half-smile, or half-hearted greeting, stop and think about it. Take the moment, be fully present, and see who is before you. Show up in their lives whether it is the stranger you meet in the line at the grocery store, the homeless man sitting on the street corner, the friend who seems strong enough that they could never need anyone but takes on the burdens of everyone around them, your neighbor, your coworker, your Mom, or your spouse. Take the moment, talk, smile, engage, and pray --- pray for the person, their situation, that they would know they are seen. Then show up again and again and again. I pray that from this point on, since you are now aware, that people would be visible to and cared for by you.
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