“You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.” Psalm 139:1-4
The day was just turning dusk, the sun was lowering itself in the horizon and the long shadows that mark the coming of the sunset were gone. Supper was nearly finished at the camp and inside the dining hall camper hearts and bellies were full, fun music was thumping, laughter abounded, and everyone was dressed and ready for the upcoming dance that marked the end of the camp session.
I was running an errand back to the health hut as it’s known and had jumped on a golf cart. I turned to the right just as I was passing the kitchen of the dining hall and to my surprise there was an open window, standing just inside it was a lady. We made eye contact and I waved. The darkness of the day allowed me to see perfectly into the well lit kitchen. The darkness around me made it more difficult for her to see me.
The kitchen staff of the camp are the unsung heroes of a camp session. They feed an army of children ranging in ages from 6-18, they cook and prepare the food to fuel those bodies fresh from archery, swimming, boating, crafting, bounce house bouncing, all manner of activities.
That kitchen staff also feeds the camp staff that cares for the small army of campers, three full meals a day. As soon as one meal ends prep for the next one begins. They do a tremendous amount of work but they are rarely seen. They will serve the food, and do not hesitate to ask if there is something more that is needed, they never turn down the requested second helping from littles ones thrusting their plates toward the servers. The kitchen staff must recognize the ravenous state brought on by camp activities and days spent in the early summer sun, they pile plates high, they stretch the limits of even the sturdiest of paper plates.
There in that moment of clarity I was able to see what I typically couldn’t.
Darkness framed light and the light made the kitchen lady visible. As I waved to her I said to myself, “I see you.” I drove on, turned right at the pool and headed toward my destination and in that moment I heard the Lord say to me, “And I see you.”
Truth is, in the days of late I haven’t felt very seen.
There are times in our lives when we are the proverbial camp kitchen staff workers, when we are doing things, or going through things and it feels we are all alone or that no one notices, knows, or even cares.
Those are discouraging times, times when we don’t feel seen. When not being seen leads to thoughts of not being known, that leads to thoughts of not being cared for or loved.
To be seen is the first step of reassurance we all so often need, just feeling seen feeds the soul. God is not blind to our troubles, our unrewarded work or difficulties. He doesn’t turn away from us, in fact He has said in His word that He sees, He knows and He hears.
Priceless 