Friday prayer: help us to see and be seen by one another

Immortal, invisible God,

how do you do it?

How do you put up with people claiming that they can’t see you?

That you’re not real?

That you can’t be hurt?

Certainly I don’t have your long view or capacity to forgive,

but I know what it’s like to be invisible,

to be told that I don’t matter

or that I’m not allowed to feel what I feel.

It stings.

Immortal, invisible God,

when I’m overlooked,

my feelings get hurt.

But for some,

being ignored is a matter of life and death.

Be with all those who too often go unseen.

Respond to their needs,

stoke their hopes,

bind up their wounds.

Hold them in the warmth of a divine love

that gets it,

that sharpens their outlines

and bolsters their voices

and reminds them of their worth

in the presence of their Maker.

God only wise,

bring into our field of view

those who are too often hid from our eyes.

Help us to notice those that – if we’re being honest – we’d rather not.

Nudge us past our discomfort and our fear of having to change

so that we can love and be loved

by all those to whom you give life

and in whom you live.

Immortal, invisible God,

thank you for the often-imperceptible ways you bind us together.

May we see and honor one another,

and in so doing, glorify you.

Amen.

*Image courtesy of Micromoth, rgbstock.com.*

Laura Stephens-Reed is a clergy and congregational coach working with ministers and churches across the ecumenical spectrum. Having served in a variety of pastoral roles and denominations, she is primarily affiliated with the Alliance of Baptists and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and has ministerial standing in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Based in northwest Alabama (United States), Laura is married to a United Methodist pastor, and they have a seven-year-old son. She blogs weekly at laurastephensreed.com.

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