You Are Not Invisible

I  was in a brewery/restaurant recently catching some live music and sampling some good beer.  I also got the chance to do some people watching, which is one of my favorite things to do.  

It was a busy night that night, and the place was crowded.  There were groups of friends, families, couples, and even a few people who were there alone.  I found myself zeroing in on the solitary folks, curious to see how they would act. 

And I kind of identified with them because I was there alone as well---taking a bit of a break from trying to achieve and do, and just enjoying a beautiful evening.  

I wondered what brought them there.  Were they meeting friends later?  Did they decide to go out because they wanted to be somewhere alive and vibrant?  Or maybe they wanted to relax and the only cure for their stress was beer and tacos.  

I kind of feel that last reason, for sure.  

I  got to thinking about how it can be sobering it can be to be in a crowd of strangers and realize that no one knows you, or cares about you.  But for some people they can feel that same sense of disconnection at work, school or even in their own homes. 

Many of us have moments when we feel invisible... or awkward... or like we don't belong or fit in.  It can be an acutely hurtful thing to realize this, but we don't have to let that hurt linger.  

No matter how we might feel about ourselves, we are not invisible or out of place to the One who loves us beyond all of our understanding of love.  We are seen.  We are known.  We are welcomed.  

I recently read a wonderful quote by author Sara Bessey, who said:  

We aren't invisible to Jesus or embarrassing to Jesus, nor are we unwelcome. 

May you hear this with joy today if you are struggling with feeling lost.  May you know that you are not alone.  May you embrace this knowledge and let it dwell deep within your heart.  

And may the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you now and always. Amen.