This week our Advent Calendar focuses on El Roi, the God Who Sees. I love this name for God. So many of us just need to know that we are seen. We need a witness to our lives.
Frankly, that is something that divorce has really made me face up to. I have always been a girl, then a woman, who loves the spotlight. I am a natural performer, and I like that about me. When my ex-husband stepped out of my life, he also stepped out of the audience. It's an odd feeling for me to have no audience.
This year I had the opportunity to live and work for 4 months in Juneau, Alaska. It was awesome, truly. But I was living in a city where I knew exactly 1 person. Bit by bit my little group of people grew, but for most of my time there I would say that the circle of people who knew me by sight was barely in the double digits.
I still remember the day that I was walking downtown and I heard a car horn honk and someone called my name. It made my whole day. Someone knew me by sight and acknowledged that. Such a simple thing for her to honk her horn and call out, "Hello Karlie".
This week, celebrate Christmas by seeing the people around you. Acknowledge the crowds, by all means, but look for the person. With a smile and a Merry Christmas spread the joy of the season with eye contact and acknowledgement.
Propped up around my TV are Christmas cards from one of my cousins and two of my aunts. Just little notes that make me smile as I sit in my home 6 hours away from my family's town. Yesterday, my friend from Argentina asked me a question on Facebook about the art classes I've been teaching. Today I set up a date with my two oldest friends. They are all little things, but they remind me that I am sitting in other peoples' audiences and they are sitting in mine.
As we continue to prepare for Christmas Day, surprise a neighbor, a stranger, someone far away with the gift of being remembered.
Be Fruitful,
Karlie
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