Transformation happens when we invest in others.
Do you feel like you are unseen? Forgotten? Left out?
We have all experienced those moments, haven’t we? And we all like to be noticed. We’ve also had those moments when we knew God knows precisely where we are. A snapshot of a moment when God stepped out of the wilderness and met us when we needed a reminder that He cares.
But let’s turn the tables a bit.
Are you seeing the unseen?
The Bible is replete with examples of people who weren’t noticed much by others — but God saw them. The widow with the two mites, Zaccheus in the tree, the Centurion at the cross, Balaam, Jabez, Mordecai, and even the thief on the cross.
Who do you walk by every day? Who is laboring among you without recognition?
Several months ago, we were at a restaurant. Elizabeth noticed a lady walking around, picking up used dishes and wiping tables. She was quiet, not outgoing, and not very noticeable. But she was carefully and unassumingly going about her business. Elizabeth couldn’t get her mind off the lady, and we watched as she continued to do her job throughout the evening. We had presumed she wasn’t getting tips from the other servers, so Elizabeth told her “thank you” and handed her a $5 bill as we left the restaurant. The lady smiled and thanked her, and we watched her walk off, hoping she kept the money and not put it in a pot to split with the others.
We returned to the restaurant this week (months later, remember?), and guess what? The lady remembered us. Very obviously, she waved from a distance at first, then she came by and smiled big. When we left, Elizabeth walked up to her, handed her a $10 bill, and got a big hug. (By the way, Elizabeth had found the $10 bill lying in a parking lot earlier in the day, but that’s a story for another time.)
The lady was seen. For a moment at least, she felt favored and cared for.
What about the people you see every day? You’ll see them, even if you are not looking for them.
- The person at church who no one else is talking to.
- The seemingly insignificant lady at the restaurant clearing tables.
- The obviously lonely person walking through the mall or sitting alone at the food court.
- The quiet person at work who never goes to lunch with anyone.
- Call them by their name. I have made a habit of doing this at the grocery store checkout, among other places. It’s amazing the response you get. “Thank you, Susie. Have a great weekend.”
- Interrupt their routine. When you see them, stop, square your shoulders, and ask their name. And then, as you leave them. “John, have a great day.” Or, “Mary, it was great to meet you today.”
- Do something for them. It doesn’t have to involve money or something tangible. It could be a hug, thank you, or engaging in a simple conversation in which you listen intentionally.
- Invite them… If you feel moved or helpful, invite them to lunch or coffee. If not at your home, then to a restaurant. It can be inexpensive. Believe me, McDonald’s, Starbucks, or Chipotle is a grand move on your part.
- Keep something on you that has value. Maybe it’s a small book, a $2 bill, or a colored bracelet with an inspirational thought. We’re not talking about a Christian pamphlet — we’re not trying to push an agenda. Something that they might consider useful or of value.
- Get their mailing address. Send them a card, an encouraging note, or something that would be of value to them.
Whatever you do, ensure you’re safe. We’re not suggesting you make yourself vulnerable, and we’re certainly not suggesting you do anything that would put you at risk. But some people in your everyday life feel unseen and lonely and don’t know how to escape that prison.
The bottom line is that this is an investment — you will have to give something (e.g., money, time, you.) You are investing in someone’s life. If you want a friend, be a friend. If you need to be seen, see someone else. If you need kindness, sow kindness. But recognize that that unseen person is worth your time, effort, and investment.