Longing to Be Seen

It seems that each one of us is born with a longing, closely resembling a need to be seen. We desire to be acknowledged, recognized,accepted. Children are not shy about making this desire known. I have been in this area of Uganda for 6 weeks and I can now say that I am well-known by all of the children who live in my neighborhood. I can't step out of my gate with out one calling out my name, and usually it is many more than one! I don't go through a day without the children coming close to the house and calling for me. I am known and I must admit - it gives me a sense of pride. A sense of "I am important to someone" is achieved when you are acknowledged. When you know that someone sees you and knows who you are it makes you feel good. Nearly every day I go outside of my gate and play with the children. There are many children and all of them want attention at the same time. This is the same as with children all over the world, apparently. :) They call my name and then make sure I watch as they do some kind of trick, or dance, or as they climb a tree or jump a long distance. They will do anything that they think may impress me or hold my attention.
This longing is not exclusive to children though. Recently one of my fellow ECM team members here has gone through a very difficult time. He made the comment yesterday, "Sometimes it seems like God has forgotten us". It is easy to start thinking that way. There is so much suffering in this world, and sometimes we can cry and pray for a long time and nothing seems to change. The truth is though, that God sees everything. He sees and knows every person who has ever lived and ever will live. I was reading John 1 this morning and it gives the account of when Jesus met one of his future followers, Nathanael, for the first time. John 1:47-49 "Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him and said of him, 'Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit.' Nathanael said to him, 'How do you know me?' Jesus said, 'Before Philip called to you, when you were under the fig tree I saw you. 'Nathanael answered and said unto him, Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of the Israel." Wow! Jesus was able to see everyone, even though he was in human form. This led me to think of and read Genesis chapter 16 which tells of Hagar, Sarai's handmaid, who was chased away by Sarai after becoming pregnant with Abram's child. She was running through the wilderness and calling out to God for help. Genesis 16:7 + 9-11 +13-14 says, "And the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness...And the angel of the Lord said to her, Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hands, for I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, that they shall not be numbered for multitude. Behold, you are with child, and shall bear a son, and shall call his name Ishmael (meaning God hears) for the Lord has heard your affliction. And Hagar called the name of the Lord that spoke to her, Thou God Who Sees Me...therefore the fountain also was called Beerlahairoi (meaning the Well of the One Who Lives and Sees Me".
So, whether we are being called by the Lord to follow Him or we are running from someone or something or wherever we are in life we can rest in the truth that God is there watching. He does see us and He cares!