Favorite Names

 Today, during noontime prayer, Tullio asked us to take a moment to pray and praise the names of God.  I couldn't help but think on my favorite name for God: El Roi - the God who sees [me].  You see I'm a fairly low maintenance person.  I also don't like the spotlight.  So between the two things of me not needing a lot of attention and me not wanting a lot of attention, sometimes it can feel like I'm downright invisible.  Don't get me wrong, some days being practically invisible has its perks.  But some days feeling invisible is gut wrenching.  And in the middle of the pandemic, when I'm not even physically visible to most of the world, it can be hard to not feel invisible.  

But, El Roi.  God sees me.  He sees the days I'm struggling and no one knows.  He sees the days that I draw up all of my courage to whisper a request of someone and I'm passed over because my ask isn't loud enough and the person expects me to be self-sufficient, because normally I am.  He sees the days my heart is breaking for seemingly no reason.  And what I love most about El Roi is that he doesn't just see me and move on.  He sees me and He sits with me there in the discomfort and pain.  Some days we just sit, because this world is hard and things happen that aren't all that God would have wanted for us because sin has tainted the world.  Some days He tells me "Talitha cumi" - "Little girl, get up!" and He takes me by the hand and resurrects a place in my heart that I thought had been killed by the ugliness of sin and death in this world.  Some days He tells me it's time to move on, to forgive someone who has hurt me or to let go of a sin that was bringing me comfort.  And some days He is the Redeemer and He takes that hurt or sadness and He flips it on its head like He flipped the tables in the temple to bring beauty from ashes and a garment of praise for heaviness.  

You see El Roi doesn't just stop at seeing, He sees and He acts.  And that is why El Roi will always be one of my favorite names.  If you've read this far, please share your favorite name of God...and why! :)