October 21, 2019
THAT I MAY SEE
Betty Samelson
Volunteer and MMM Board Member, Colorado
“Lord that I may see.”
Luke 18:41
As I reflect on the verse “That I may see,” Jesus goes on to say, “Receive your sight, your faith has healed you.” This excerpt from the Bible refers to the blind man who asked to see. Jesus tells him his faith has healed him. I wonder how often I am blind to the needs of the day, to those I encounter and to myself. I’m also reminded that because of my faith, I will try to do as Jesus would if he were here, greeting each village with kindness, love and acceptance.
Over the years of coming to Africa, I have been humbled at the kindness and acceptance of the villagers when I enter their village. Often the villagers want to shake hands or have us hold their babies or cook for us and offer us a meal or the children will show us their school work and sing songs. Sometimes the quiet villagers just come to the well. I’ve been in awe at the ease of making connections even with the barriers of language and diverse cultures. It’s also been particularly exciting that the villagers witness the same from us. Last year when Jan and I were walking to the truck from a well site, the villagers were excitedly chatting and laughing with our Field Officer, Sunday. We heard “azungu” so we knew they were talking about us. Sunday told us that the villagers wanted to know why two older women would willingly leave the comforts of their home and walk their steep hills to bring clean water. Sunday simply replied, “Because they love us.” As the African show us each day how they accept us, we do the same by seeing everyone we meet with respect and kindness.
There is a Zulu expression of greeting, “Sawubona” which translated means “I see you.” It means to be fully present in the moment when you meet someone. When we enter the villages and shake hands and look into each other’s eyes, it’s a connection without words. It invokes a spirit of openness and a willingness to engage with integrity emphasizing no masks and no deceit. To really see you is an affirmation that you do exist, you are equal, and that you respect that person.
Application Question: Who will you see today? The possibilities are endless.
Prayer: Lord, because of our faith in You, help us to really see one another with respect, kindness and love.
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