Have you ever felt unseen or unnoticed? Everyone’s eyes seem to be locked on their cell phones; no one makes eye contact with you. No one talks to you because they do not know you. You try to find a vacant seat on the bus or train but there are none available.

Then, out of nowhere, you hear a woman say, “Thank you for giving up your seat, sir! You have made my day! Thank you for seeing that I needed to sit down!” The kind man saw how overwhelmed she was and gave her his seat. Sensing she needed to talk, he began a conversation with her, by listening for understanding.

When we are seen and understood, we do not feel alone or like we are just another person trying to make it through the day. Jesus did not just see people; He noticed them.  He interacted with them and made them feel whole. I believe that He would not have liked seeing us on our cell phones constantly, because they take us away from actually spending time with one another. They prevent us from truly loving someone other than ourselves. It is not necessary to spend every waking minute on a cell phone, but many people do. Am I being old fashioned, or do they feel lonely, too, perhaps more?

Thank you for seeing me, for listening to me, and for caring enough to love me. Your love gives me a sense of belonging. God called each one of us to help each other feel that we matter, that we are gifts to each other, and that we hear each other’s hearts. God’s love helps me be who I am, but you help me feel like I belong.

Anna Hartt