Friday, March 15, 2013

Being Noticed

Things stay too hectic....and my brain is fried from attending a conference on special ed for 3 days....but I learned a lot of good info....now, what to do with it?  ;)

I have had this thought for awhile now. Finally taking time to jot it down. It's something I noticed at the high school when I have been there for lunch. I've noticed it in grocery stores. I even noticed it at the conference.

You know the saying about feeling lonely even when you are surrounded by people? What I've noticed is that we have a tendancy to avoid eye contact when walking past people. I'm guilty of it too. I'll put my head down, look off into the distance or play around with something in my hands to avoid looking around.

What I have noticed though (when I pay more attention) is the power of a smile. Even just glancing quickly and smiling while hurrying past someone, a smile let's them know he/she has been noticed. They matter. Let's face it when in a huge group of people do you feel "noticed"? Do you feel like you stick out? Do you feel invisible?

We talk so much in school about bullies, victims and bystanders. Oh My! (Wiz of Oz reference) If we as parents, teachers, students, administrators, bosses, employees, ANYBODY and EVERYBODY, started to pay more attention and NOTICING what is going on around us, what a better world it would be. Be noticable. Be noticed. Start with a smile. It might be the only smile someone sees all day. People need to know they are not invisible. They are here for a reason. They are noticed.

Psalm 144: 3-4 (NIV) O Lord, what are human beings that you should notice them, mere mortals that you should think about them? For they are like a breath of air; their days are like a passing shadow.

Psalm 51:16-17 (Message) Going through the motions doesn’t please you, a flawless performance is nothing to you.
I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered. Heart-shattered lives ready for love don’t for a moment escape God’s notice.