Invisible

A couple of weeks ago, our church sent a team of about 20 people to New Orleans to do some mission work. This past Sunday, they shared about their trip during the morning service, and I cried during THE ENTIRE THING. Good grief. I'm such a sap!

The very last person to speak was our pastor's wife, and what she said smacked my heart so hard and I've not been able to forget it.

She said so many people are invisible.

She went on to talk about some of the people she and the team met while they were gone and how they were invisible for different reasons and how grateful they were when someone from the team saw them. When someone dared to hug them or reached out with a meal.

And she said now that she's back home, her hope is to see the invisible around her and to let them know they're seen.

I literally scooted to the edge of my pew and leaned up to cling to her words because this topic is at the very front of my heart.

Because I was invisible.

There is another woman at my church who is married to a guy from my class in high school. For four years, his locker was three down from mine in the alphabetical list of 80 people.

He has no idea I was in his class.

She got out the yearbook and showed him my picture.

No idea.

I was invisible.

(And that's a significant feat when you factor in 90's hair.)

There were days in high school when I was actually secretly glad to be invisible. Sometimes it's better than being seen...because at least you're left alone.

But there's that part of all of us that doesn't want to be invisible. We want to be seen. Really seen. Seen for our hearts. Seen for our dreams. Seen for our potential.

Seen and accepted and chosen and loved. It's what we want.

And there are a lot of people out there who are walking around in full view...completely invisible.

There are days when I think back to Little Miss Chubby Poofy Bangs in high school and I would love to tell that girl it's okay. One day someone will see you. And life will be okay. You hang in there.

And whenever I'm seen for who I am...whenever I'm chosen as a friend...whenever I'm accepted for what I have to offer...whenever I'm loved...I do not for one second take that for granted.

Because some people never know that.

And I hope...oh my goodness, how I hope...I see the people around me.

Really see.

That no one in my path is invisible.