Being Seen

The LORD bless you and keep you;

the LORD make his face shine on you

and be gracious to you;

the LORD turn his face toward you 

and give you peace.  (Numbers 6:24–26 NIV)

I have always loved this blessing. I often use it as a benediction at the end of worship services and in devotional material. I really enjoy the song that was released based on Numbers 6 at the beginning of the pandemic. Recently, though, it has taken on new meaning as I am relearning the power of being seen. 

Edi Libedinsky, Unsplash

As my daughter Eva grows up, it’s quite evident how important eye contact is for her development. When Rachel and I aren’t paying attention to her, she will cry out to get our attention. Sometimes we wonder what’s wrong, and more often than not, she just wants to be included in the conversation, just wants us to look at her. And her eyes light up when we do. 

We frequently get comments from friends and strangers about what good eye contact she makes with others. She’s picking up on the importance of this act. I feel it when she meets my gaze. There’s something powerful about being seen. 

For the last few months, I have sung “The Blessing” over Eva as I put her down for her nap or at night. It’s a space to allow her to rest in that blessing, while I look her in the eyes. She is impacted by this, but so am I. I can feel the connection with her, even though she doesn't understand the words I’m singing. There is a profound intimacy in this space of simply turning my gaze toward my daughter. I can see by her countenance that she feels a sense of love, of comfort and security. 

Turning your face toward someone is a concrete way of communicating intimacy. I love that in this passage, of all the ways that God could communicate blessing, he doubles the blessing of seeing us: “May he make his face shine upon you” and “may he turn his face toward you.” Yes we want the Lord to be gracious to us and to give us peace, but both of those blessings are connected to being seen and known by him. His grace and peace are outworkings of intimacy. Curt Thompson, one of my favorite authors, says that we come into this world “looking for someone looking for us… And that never stops.” It manifests in our relationships with family and friends, but it finds its root in our relationship with God. 

Tozer said that God “meant us to see Him and live with Him and draw our life from His smile.” (The Pursuit of God, p. 23). This is our created purpose and our first calling, but how often do we attend to this exchange?How often do we pause and pay attention to God seeing us? How often do we slow down enough to see and notice God? How might we be different if our being seen by God was the basis for how we lived into this world? 

These are questions I am asking myself and want to invite you to ask them with me.