Skip to main content

The God Who Sees Me

             She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” (Genesis 16:13)

               

There is a character in the story I’m writing who was inspired, at least a little, by Hagar. He was in a bad situation and met a god he calls “the God Who Sees,” and his life has changed. He met my main character, and in their most recent conversation, she mentioned trying to find the answer to who she is. His answer ties back to his life-changing experience of encountering the “God who sees me.”

I don’t intend to try to build some big theological something out of my story, as if my story holds the answers to the mysteries of the ages. It’s just that he’s right. Who we (think we) are tends to depend on who we see looking at us. When the boss is looking at us, we’re good employees, even if we’re disrespectful clowns when he’s looking the other way. We may act confidently in front of one group but be less so around someone we know and trust better. And we all know what happens when someone significant gives us “that look” (whichever look happens to be “that look” at the moment) When we are aware that we are being looked at or watched, it changes our perspective of who we are. And if there are two people (or more) looking at us, we can only focus on or respond to one of them looking at us at a time.

Not only this, but when we are aware of someone seeing us or watching us, it can change the way we see our circumstances. If the one who sees us responds positively, we are likely to see the situation as being more acceptable. If the one seeing us gets angry, anxious, or upset, we’ll see our situation negatively. If the one who sees us tends to respond with compassion to our needs, we might learn to see others and respond to them with compassion by their example.

It all comes down to whether or not we’re seeing the one who sees us, whoever that is. Perhaps we need to start paying better attention to what passes before our eyes, so that we actively see what we see, staring with our ones who see us.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:10)   “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.   By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)           Joshua grinned when he saw Rex standing by the door, studying something on the ground. "Hey, man! Are we ready to do this thing?"          Rex looked up. "Josh, I can't do it. We're still best buds, but I can't stand your fiancée."           I've met "Rex" many times. I've been Rex. Joshua (Jesus) loves the Church. He's not a fool. He knows the Church is far from perfect, but she is His chosen bride. The Rexes of this world, who think themselves His friend, turn away from her. "You don't need the Church to...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ssssssubmmissssssionnn

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ . (Ephesians 5:21)             "Ssssssubmmisssssssionnn." Can't you just hear the serpent hissing this most horrible of words? If you listen to the serpent or the world, submission means groveling, allowing yourself to be abused, denying yourself your own humanity. Nothing could be worse than submission, could it?             Submission has never been a problem for me, as long as things are going the way I want them to. The rest of the time? Well, let's just say that while I don't know how to fight physically, I don't know how to not fight mentally. One of the fights I've been having with myself for years is about submission.             My first breakthrough took place on a trip to a bookstore. As I walked into the store, my thoughts were very clear. 1) I was goi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Shark Fins, Triple Dog Dares, Heroes, Villains and Sidekicks

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)            There's a scene in Jaws in which someone sees a shark fin and starts a panic. As   all the swimmers scramble to shore, boats surround the fin, which falls over to reveal two kids. With several guns pointed at them, one of the kids points at the other. The message is clear: it was his idea. In Christmas Story, there's a scene in which one kid "triple dog dares" another to do something stupid. Since it's a triple dog dare, well, what choice does the boy have? There doesn't seem to be any end to the trouble that peer pressure can cause. ...
Post a Comment
Read more