We serve a God who gives us God’s full attention and sees what we are going through, even when no one else does.  Do you know that the first few books of the Bible are FULL of examples of God giving things a name like “light, dark, stars, moon, plants, animals” but the first person in Scripture to give God a name was a woman named Hagar?  She was a servant in Abraham’s home and became pregnant with his child after Sarah forced her into Abraham’s bed.  Sarah became jealous of her servant Hagar and began to mistreat her.  So Hagar was a single, unwed mother fleeing an abusive situation and found herself in the wilderness, unsure of what to do next.  It was there, by a spring in the desert that the Lord comes to her and asks the powerful question, “Hagar, slave of Sarah, where have you come from and where are you going?”  God is showing that God knows her, knows her situation and is listening.  At the end of their conversation, Hagar calls God El Roi- the One who Sees me, because in her distress, God was the one who gave her attention, who saw what she was really going through. 

     So, I’m not sure what you are facing right now.  Maybe you are having a Hagar moment as you try to figure out where you are coming from and where you are going or maybe there is a Hagar in your midst.  Maybe there is someone who just wants to be seen and heard, someone who is struggling and feels alone in the wilderness.  May you follow in the footsteps of the One who created you in the divine image and give your full attention to SEE the ones you love.  For at least a few minutes, put down your phone, put down your work or chores or to-do lists and give them attention, give them your support, give them hope.  It just might change their life and yours too!