New York City made in the image of God

Work starts at 8AM, you snoozed your alarm too many times, and you have 30 minutes to get ready. In your hurried state, you manage to give a fraction of attention to your spouse before throwing on some deodorant and cologne to cover up the fact that you didn't shower. There's no time to make coffee or even grab a cup from Starbucks, so you drive the 4 miles to work like you're a rookie Nascar driver, forgetting how you even got to work in the first place. You probably passed 6 people on your way into your office, but gave them the same status as the fake trees in the hallway. You sit down, sigh, and crank out 8 hours of work just to go home and use your exhaustion as an excuse to disengage in your home for the evening.

Crystal (my wife) and I just got home from a two week trip to Atlanta and New York City. NYC is the kind of city where there is a constant buzz. The batteries never die. The lights never dim. Friday never stops. It's actually quite intoxicating! There was a moment as I was walking among hundreds of people, drinking deep of the NYC appeal, where I was hit with sorrow. I wondered to myself, "Do any of these people feel seen? Has anyone stopped to notice them today? Do they just feel like an ornament on the shiny NYC tree?" Perhaps I was wondering those questions because I, too, have felt unseen, unknown, and unnoticeable. I can't IMAGINE how invisible some people may feel in a city like NYC. I began to walk with an "imago Dei" perspective. Imago Dei is the theological term for "image of God". For humans to be made in God's image, is for humans to carry with them a high value that no other created being carries. To be made in God's image is to be a mirror of the Divine Love. To be made in God's image is to possess the responsibility and purpose of managing, stewarding, and using one's power to contribute to the restorative work of God in all creation. Like Zacchaeus, I wondered how many New Yorkers needed to be seen, even just for a moment. I wondered how many New Yorkers needed to be acknowledged as a beautiful human BEING, not just a human DOING working as cog in corporate machine they work for.

Let me name the tension here. There's a good chance you might get clocked if you literally stop someone, take up their time, and prevent them from getting onto the subway in time. I'm not suggesting that you add to the stress of someone's day by being annoying! On the contrary, I'm suggesting that you listen to the Spirit for small moments to acknowledge and affirm the image of God within someone. It could be eye contact with a houseless person. It could be a smile to the person in the car next to you at the stoplight. It could be a simple, "hey, I don't know you and you don't know me, but I just want you to know that you're loved and your life is valuable" while you're standing in line or sitting on the subway. The good news of the Gospel is that you DON'T HAVE TO BE ANNOYING in order to embody Gospel truth to others. Before you begin your day, pause to be with God in prayer and say, "God, give me an opportunity to see someone today." The next step is for you to pay attention and to be faithful where the Spirit may be leading you to call out the image of God within another person.

One night while we were walking in the city that never sleeps, we were lost trying to find a scenic rooftop bar (were we actually in NYC if we don't take rooftop pics and post them on Instagram?). As we stopped on the sidewalk to check Google Maps, I noticed a woman sitting on the ground who appeared to be houseless. What struck me, though, was that she was crying. She wasn't engaging with the dozens of people walking by her, she was just quietly crying. Looking at her, I was filled with emotion. I wondered how long she might have been crying and what the cause of her tears were. I watched people walk by her, ignoring her existence and her tears. God aimed my attention at her and I couldn't stop thinking about her and I sensed God saying to me, "go to her and acknowledge her tears". My heart was racing and I was making all sorts of excuses not to obey what I was certain God was asking me to do. I turned my anxiety into a hesitant obedience, knelt down in front of her, gently put my hand on her shoulder, and said, "I just want you to know that God sees your tears. Your tears are valuable, and you are loved." She began to weep and muttered the words, "thank you." We then walked away and went to our Instagram worthy rooftop bar.

The baggage that I carry tells me that I didn't do enough, but I'm trusting in God's prompting in that moment. God was already at work in the life of this woman before I got there, and I pray that my words were a companion to what the Spirit was already doing.

You may not live in New York City, but no matter your geographical location, there is someone who needs to be seen. I believe God has equipped each person who is indwelt with the Holy Spirit to participate in holy moments of seeing people. Will you answer the invitation? Will you pause long enough to look into the eyes of someone made in God's image? I have a hunch that even YOU might be the person who needs someone to pause long enough to see you.

Peace,

Ryan