Musings at the Airport Part 1: Feeling Unseen

As I walk through the airport terminal I notice hundreds of people navigating like a school of fish, swimming with a mission. They all look the same. Eyes forward. Straight face. Pulling or carrying their baggage, the necessities of the moment, things they can’t live without. Eyes forward, looking but not seeing. Not communicating with anyone. Just moving forward to their next destination. They are not noticed by anyone. Just moving in what seems like forward motion. They all have the same facial expression…stern, focused. Just get where you need to go.

So I wonder. Does anyone see me? Do they know I’m here? Am I important? It doesn’t feel that way as I’m jostled and bumped and quickly passed up. No apology. No consideration. No courteous nod. It feels like the epicenter for “all about me.” I certainly don’t feel seen on this journey.

I begin to wonder if all the people in the airport feel the same as me, unseen.

All of this wondering has me thinking about life. Do we all feel unseen by everyone around us? What is under our exterior of self-sufficiency, of taking care of oneself, of living in the moment with purpose? Do we all experience the loneliness of the unseen world?

If we answer honestly, the answer is yes. We all crave connection with people. Our family, friends, coworkers. We want to be seen by them, recognized in a unique way. Known for what we have done, are doing, and dream to do. But in the business of daily life we can feel forgotten, we don’t matter, we are not enough. And that hurts. That’s a lonely place to live in but it’s reality for so many.

We spend our time and energy trying to be seen by those closest to us. Or maybe our net is cast a bit wider as we advertise our lives on all of the social media platforms. Social media feeds into this desire but it’s not to blame. Whether on social media or in face to face moments with people, we share our accomplishments, our troubles, our ideas, our wisdom, and much, much more. All of this can be good. My point being, what is at the heart of our sharing our over sharing? Sometimes it is to be seen.

Here’s the truth. You may feel invisible to everyone around you. Your physical presence is perceived as invisible, leaving the feelings of worthlessness. But God, who is an unseen, invisible God, sees you.

His word says “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:13-16

He knows you. He loves you. He says you matter. Jeremiah 1:5 states that God knew you before he formed you in the womb. Need more proof?  Luke 12:7 tells us that He knows the hairs on your head. He knows your innermost thoughts. The good the bad the ugly. And he loves you even more! His opinion of you should matter more than any accolade or recognition from anyone in else on this earth. You matter. Your self-worth comes from God. You are fully seen and known by him. Rest in that truth. Take comfort in His promises to you. Let the fact that our loving, merciful, and gracious God sees you, knows you, and loves you. Let that be all that you need.