Having a Heart to See

I have been loving this morning prayer:

     I am not the captain of my own destiny
     Nor even of this day, and so
     I renounce anew all claim to my own life and desires.
     I am only yours, O Lord.

     Lead me by your mercies through these hours,
     That I might spend them well,
     Not in harried pursuit of my own agenda, but
     Rather in good service to you.

     Teach me to shepherd the small duties
     Of this day with great love,
     Tending faithfully those tasks
     You place within my care
     And tending with patience and kindness the needs and
     Hearts of those people you place within my reach…
     Every Moment Holy: Volume One - "Liturgy for First Waking"

This prayer draws my attention to the hearts of people “within my reach.” And I wonder, if I carefully look at all the people God has placed within my reach, is there someone far out on the margins who longs to be embraced, who is waiting there, hoping to be seen and welcomed in?

When we are leading, we get harried as our time gets crunched, so its easiest to reach out to our “go to” people, the ones who are faithful and have proven themselves, and importantly, who will quickly say, "Yes."

But somehow, Jesus, although incredibly busy, had time to see the people standing at the margins and welcome them in. I’m reminded of Zacchaeus, the woman at Jacob’s well, and the woman with the issue of blood…she reached out to touch Jesus’ cloak in hopes of being silently healed, yet Jesus stopped, asked to hear her story, then invited her into relationship.

Can we have eyes to see people as Jesus did? Is there someone where we work who needs to feel heard in a staff meeting? Someone who has done a great job and can be given full credit for their work and be publicly thanked? Is there someone we can invite to our planning meetings so they can have a voice at the table? And what about all those women who have tremendous potential but who feel like imposters because of the sins of their youth or lack of religious education? Can we call out their strengths and walk beside them as they learn to lead? Can we have eyes to see all the people within our sphere of influence and tend to their needs?

May we be the type of leaders who hold out our hands to welcome and embrace women at the margins; may we tend with patience and kindness the needs and hearts of women within our reach.