“We see you. We hear you. You matter.”
Throughout April and May, fifteen of us took a deeper dive into racial discussions. A larger group of us had already been watching films and documentaries, reading books, and gathering twice a month for discussions over the last year, but as we moved toward May 25, the one year anniversary of George Floyd’s murder, we yearned for more.
“Our Next Faithful Move” was a perfect fit. Our hosts, Joe Davis and David Scherer, invited us into their story as residents of Minneapolis and lovingly challenged us to wrestle with our own histories and explore the tensions of our time, even as they equipped us with a variety of skills for moving forward.
After each person shared a personal story, our group paused and responded in unison, “We see you. We hear you. You matter.” Before we launched into our own thoughts, opinions, or counter arguments, we gave honor to each speaker’s vulnerability and their reflection. Knowing each others’ stories deepens our understanding of each other, allowing us to connect in meaningful ways and challenges us to grow. It is a privilege to know people in this way.
“We see you. We hear you. You matter.”
Far too often, when someone else is speaking, I spend my mental energy formulating my next verbal move. Rather than seeing and hearing them, I’m busy crafting my own agenda. This simple mantra is a reminder to honor the person before me and to take in what they are saying as we share space together.
Jesus was a master at making space for people. He saw the frustrated Zacchaeus in the tree (Luke 19:1-10) and the isolated Samaritan woman at the well in the heat of the day (John 4), then made time for them. He listened to the Syrophoenician woman (Mark 7:24-30) and the anxious thief on the cross (Luke 23:39-43). Over and over throughout the gospel accounts, Jesus declared in word and deed, “I see you. I hear you. You matter.”
During this Pride Month, you may wonder why people are posting rainbow flags, marching in Pride parades, and sharing words like ally, full-inclusion, and LGBTQIA+. These are all ways of saying “We see you. We hear you. You matter.” We stand up and speak out as signs of support and encouragement. For too long, these children of God – our family members, friends, co-workers, and strangers – have been relegated to live out of sight and in silence.
Even more, this is part of our Christian witness. The Spirit of God fills us with love and grace, giving us the capacity to know each others’ stories and find our collective selves in God’s story. Each time we worship, eat, protest, vote, listen, pray, and celebrate no-matter-what love, we proclaim to the world, “God sees you. God hears you. You matter.”
I love to tell the Story,
Pastor Lowell