He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” – Matthew 16:15

One of my mother’s favorite sayings was, “I think he is talking just to hear his head rattle.”  Maybe we have all been in the company of certain people who seem to enjoy talking with no obvious purpose other than just talking.

To be seen, to be heard, and to be accepted are three of the great personal desires in community life.  Yes, there is a certain kind of anonymity desired.  It is a longing for privacy by even the most celebrated person.  Many years ago, Dan Blocker was well known for his role as Hoss Cartwright on the popular show, Bonanza.  In an interview, he commented that the downside of such popularity was that he could not even take his sons to a baseball game without being constantly pursued by fans.  At the same time, he knew that he loved the job of being seen in television and the movies.  While we may not express the Norma Desmond line, as played by Gloria Swanson, in “Sunset Strip”, “Alright, I’m ready for my close-up Mr. DeMille.”  Generally, we still want to be recognized.

As Jesus conversed with his followers, He asked the pointed question, “But who do you say that I am?”  It mattered.  He needed to be seen.  He needed to be seen for who He was.  Who He knew He was, was most assuredly important.  Still, the value is diminished if He cannot communicate, and be recognized for the person He is.

A hallmark of the 1960s was that of those people who “dropped out” to go in search of “who they were”.  Not really intending to be cynical, there is a question that comes to mind.  How would you know if you found yourself if you didn’t know who you are? Really, there were probably a lot of mothers who could have readily let them know.

The personal question of the matter still begs for a response.  “Who do you (other people) say that I am?”  It may not be the most comfortable question to ask, but it is an important one.

It is a good thing to have an “honest” evaluation of yourself.  Perhaps a better word for it is a “correct” evaluation.  For, we can be honest, and still be wrong.  It may be a little bit like listening to a recording of our own voices.  When we hear our voice for the first time, we may wonder who it is that is speaking, or think something is wrong with the recording.  Of course, the truth is that we hear our own voice quite differently than others hear it.  In the same way, we may be perceived differently by others than we perceive ourselves.  If you think about it, when we are challenged to evaluate ourselves, we need some help.  We need to know what others honestly think.

Perhaps the “Golden Rule” is a good place to start.  Let behavior toward others be directed by how we would like to be treated, and then how we are seen will be enhanced toward the positive.  We can build how we are seen by the doing of things that build a positive image.  Consider how people saw Jesus.  The general population saw Him as messenger of God, as well as an opportunity to be physically and spiritually blessed.

It is important to find a source and examples for what we want people to see.  Let there be a source.  The example of Jesus and the powerful guidance of the scriptures are always the right choice.  For well more than a century, people of character have leaned upon the defining phrase introduced by Charles Sheldon in his well-worn novel, In His Steps.  He leaves us the challenge to always ask, “What Would Jesus Do?”  Making it personal sets us in the light to be seen in the very best of ways.

How do you want people to see you?  Do that!

Of course, we cannot control everything people think about us, or any subjective perceptions they may have.  There may well be people who malign even the best intentions we have.  Most people will assume we are what we show to them.

We want to be seen, and we will be seen.  How we are seen is valuable.  Give it your best, and then see how people respond.  If you watch them, you will have the answer to how you are seen.

Russell L. Dyer – 3/22/202