Dr. Bob Odom
One of my life lessons is that people want to be seen and heard. Since the dawn of humanity, humans have desired to be seen and heard. They want to be valued. From the time one is born, there is an innate longing and desire for acceptance. Babies cry for attention, food, and diaper changes. They want to be seen and heard. And in their immaturity, crying is the only tool at their disposal.
Beyond infancy, this primal yearning explains why society often erupts into movements and voices raised in unison. Whether it is a plea for justice, equality, or simply a better way of life, these collective actions are fueled by the desire to ensure no voice is lost in the crowd, no face fades into obscurity. When people feel unseen or unheard, they become restless, sometimes desperate, and often resilient in demanding the world to take notice.
As I was thinking about this, I thought about many of the protests around the country. There are protests for and against Trump. There are protests for and against Israel/Palestine. There are protests for and against abortion and women’s rights. There are many reasons for this, but one reason is that people want to be heard and seen.
As I was reading Matthew 6 this week, I was surprised by what I saw. I was drawn specifically to the verses (6:5-8) that came just before the Lord’s Prayer. For some reason, I felt sympathy for the characters represented in these verses. Let me share what I mean with you. Normally, when I read this passage, I feel judgment and a bit of pride that I am not like them. But then I suddenly realized that they wanted to be heard and seen.
When Jesus presents this story, he says, “Do not pray like the hypocrites or the Gentiles.” The hypocrites do so for a show. They want to be seen. The Gentiles do so to be heard. In times past, I have read this and, like many of us, cast off the hypocrites and Gentiles, but as I read this passage this time, I was moved that in reality, the hypocrites wanted to be seen while the Gentiles wanted to be heard. Their way of achieving this was not right, but their need was real.
I know in the depths of my heart that is what I want. I want to be seen, heard, and understood. When this does not happen, I isolate myself or become hyper vigilant about getting people to see and listen to me. I become very self-focused and less focused on hearing and seeing others.
It is at this moment in the passage that Jesus makes a transition. He wants us to know that He sees and hears us. He knows us, and in prayer, he already knows what we need. He suggests that we go into our closet of prayer (bedroom, dining room table, couch, or other place we commit to prayer) and pray in secret, and God will hear and bless us in the open.
What a relief to know that I am seen and heard. God sees me. He hears me. And when I draw near to him in the solace of devotion and prayer, I witness the outward expressions of that in my life. I do not have to work it up and pray it through my wordiness or a display before others.
I found these beautiful words and will close with them. “The beauty of being both seen and heard lies not in grand gestures or public displays, but in quiet moments of connection. It can be found in a kind word that acknowledges someone’s effort, in eyes meeting across a room to share a mutual understanding, or in the simple act of holding space for someone to share their story. These are the sacred exchanges that remind us that we are not invisible, not forgotten.”
So, let me ask you?
· Where do you strive to be seen or heard? Is it at home? Is it at work? Is it with your friends? Explain why?
· What emotions do you exhibit when you don’t feel seen or heard?
· How do you respond when you are not being seen or heard?
· What biases or prejudices keep you from seeing and hearing others?
· How can you improve your ability to see and hear others?
Life on the edge 