I See You

I used to watch three of the most precious little blond boys in the world. And oftentimes, I would take them for long walks through the neighborhood or to the park, just to get them out on adventures (especially during the COVID quarantine days). When we would walk along the road and a car was coming by, I would make them stop and wave to the people in the car. I did it for a couple reasons: 1) to make sure the driver was paying attention and saw them and 2) to teach them to be friendly and welcoming. It got to the point where I never had to tell them to stop and wave, they just did it. 

Now here in the South, this is not an unusual occurrence. People wave to each other all the time. If you are from the North, this can be unnerving at first. As I hail from Pittsburgh, the first time it happened I wondered, "Do I know you?" because typically only people who knew you would acknowledge you as you went by. But having lived in the South for the majority of my life now, not only am I used to it, but I prefer it. I will wave to everyone. A late friend once told me with a chuckle to wave to everyone, cause you never know when you'll need their help. Personally, I think he just enjoyed waving to everyone.

Now that we live near the coast, we are in an area with a mishmash of relocated or vacationing cultures. So while walking along the beach road, I will get all kinds of reactions. Sometimes it's just a nod of the head. Sometimes the pointer finger, two fingers or four fingers will come off the steering wheel. Sometimes just a smile. Sometimes a full-on wave. One guy even blew me a kiss. One time the person holding their breakfast burrito used it to wave hello. And then sometimes the person driving by me won't even acknowledge I'm there. Sometimes people are looking down (I assume at their phones) and can't see me. Sometimes it's just the driver that waves and other times just the passenger. Sometimes it's the whole crowd in a golf cart waving. It always makes me smile for the same two reasons above: 1) they see me, and on that beach road, that's important and 2) it's friendly and welcoming. For me, it's a little roadside evangelism without using words.

See, I want them to know I see them, too. I cannot tell you how many times I've seen a person's face that is maybe sad, grimacing or drawn and I will lift that person in prayer. Perhaps a smile will brighten their day just a bit, but certainly lifting them to the Most High will. Or if they are speeding, I'm praying for their safety or if they are looking down, that they will lift their heads and pay attention to their surroundings. And if they do wave and give me a smile, it lifts my spirits. Coming home from church Sunday, a young boy on his bicycle paused to wave to me ... perhaps to make sure I saw him or just to say hello. Either way, it brought me joy to wave back.

Sometimes I wonder how many times I have missed God walking by, hoping I will see Him and acknowledge Him. I know He is El Roi, the God Who Sees Me, just as Hagar named Him in Gen. 16:13 when she thought no one did. He is seeing me and waving, hoping I will smile and wave back. I try to do that with my devotion time each morning ... wave to the Creator of the universe, praise Him, and pray for Him to guide my steps throughout the day. It's the most important greeting of my day and I can think of no better way to start it. And if my eyes stay on Him, my choices and actions that day will be far wiser ones.

So when you see me in my sparkly visor, walking shorts, and T-shirt with the sleeves cut off, I will be waving. Even if five or more cars are going by one after the other, I will wave to every single one. And, of course, saying "hello" to those walking, running, skateboarding or biking by as well. If I'm waving at you, know you have been seen and prayed for ... and that I'm hoping those waves I see on the gulf shore won't be the only ones I see on that walk.