Be Seen (The Little Way)
It’s my personal opinion and painful observation that most of us seek to quench the aching thirst to be seen in the wrong ways and worst places. We bust our butts for beefy lists of accomplishments and social media followers and likes, all while landing on our backs under the weight of comparison, isolation, and invisibility. We hope the next outfit or diet will finally put us on everyone (or someone’s) radar. We build our brands and personas and walls so thick and high that even we sometimes look in the mirror and aren’t sure who’s looking at us. Instead of living in a communion (sharing, exchanging) of seeing and being seen, knowing and being known, loving and being loved, we walk around as shells of ourselves with our eyes down- or worse yet, eyes inward. This is as dismal as it sounds. But, there is hope for us. A lot of it.
If you and I and a chunk of our friends could strip down the walls, the facades, the metaphorical filters if you will; if we could cut the crap and drop the games, everything would change. In a word, what’s required is that we be vulnerable. It is necessary in order to be seen. The Latin root for “vulnerable” means “to wound,” thus when we are vulnerable, we are woundable. But, when our scars and wounds and weaknesses are exposed and our souls are naked, only then can we be truly seen, known, and loved as we are.
We ought to give it a shot. After all, Love Himself already sees all of us anyway. And a good and true spouse or mentor or friend will want to see all you are, know everything about you, and love you in and through your gorgeous mess.
Kids are great examples of living this best life- of seeking to be seen without false pretense or fear of judgement. This is likely why our all-wise God told us we must become like children to enter His Kingdom. St. Therese, a Doctor of the Church, once encouraged a fellow sister with what has come to be known as “The Little Way.” She said, “The only way to advance rapidly in the path of love is to remain always very little.”
Abba Father, thank you for loving us and making us for love. Send your Holy Spirit on us and fill our hearts with the fire of truth. May we see ourselves and others as you see us. May we seek to know and love all of your children with tender compassion and eyes of truth. Be our light, our hope, and our joy. Mother of God, pray that we may be like children. Amen.
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Bridget is from outside Boston but resides in Washington, DC where she works for a pro-life nonprofit in government relations. She played soccer and softball while attending Christendom College in VA. She’s a big fan of invading the personal space of other people’s dogs, going to baseball games on summer nights, and eating McDonald’s #2 meals (no mustard, add mayo).