See the Invisible

Psalm 139:1-6
God's Word Translation

O Lord, you have examined me, and you know me.
² You alone know when I sit down and when I get up.
    You read my thoughts from far away.
³ You watch me when I travel and when I rest.
    You are familiar with all my ways.
⁴         Even before there is a single word on my tongue,
            you know all about it, Lord.
⁵ You are all around me—in front of me and in back of me.
    You lay your hand on me.
⁶         Such knowledge is beyond my grasp.
        It is so high I cannot reach it.

Have you ever felt invisible?  I have.  There have been many times where I have cried in the frustration that the feeling brings.  Where you feel like people only see the shell of who you are - and completely miss the essence of who you are.  Why?  Because they don't see you.  You are invisible. 

Through some observations, including of my own life, I have come to realize that this feeling of invisibility comes from the shame and pain that one bears.  Shame, pain, hurt, confusion - you name it - has a way of isolating people.  Not too many people are willing to stand up and shout their burdens, and not too many people want to hear about them.  So, what do we do?  We put on our smiles.  We look like we are supposed to look.  We say, I'm fine, thank you.  Sometimes, the hurting are the ones encouraging others.  We hide.  We become invisible.

Only, no one really wants to be invisible!  As I have been contemplating all of these things, I came across the above passage.  I was struck by how un-invisible we are.  Whether God is close or far away, he sees us.  He knows us.  He touches us. 

I know that most of us will continue putting on our smiles, etc.  Me, included.  But, I think that for those of us who have ever felt invisible, or at least can imagine how that feels, we should put some spiritual x-ray glasses on look beyond the shell of people, and really see them.  Behind the smile, the perfect look, even the encouraging word, might be someone who needs to be seen.