I Feel Seen
Dr. Kristal Moore Clemons
3/28/20253 min read
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:5 (NIV)
Poem: The Hill We Climb by Amanda Gorman
Meditation:
Lately it’s been hard to live in this world and feel like people really “see” you. I mean this both literally and figuratively. As a result of the global pandemic, I’ve been masked up, face shield up, basically covered up. People can’t see my smile or facial expressions. They really only see my eyes. Similarly, as a Black woman I also feel like people don’t really “see” me. In spaces where I am the minority, often my comments are not regarded as critical to the conversation or my ideas or feelings about things aren’t seen as legitimate. No matter the circumstance, it’s hard to “feel seen”. That lack of recognition takes a toll on your spirit and you begin to question “do I even matter?”
Time and time again, we’ve heard the sayings “this too shall pass” and “trouble don’t last always”. Yet, what does that really mean? Or, as Amanda Gorman puts it “where can we find light in this never ending shade?” It just feels like I have been fighting through never ending shade more days than most since the onset of the global pandemic. If I am totally honest, I was feeling this way before the pandemic. Black women and girls have to fight to be seen and heard in the various spaces we navigate both professionally and personally. Verses 17 and 18 from the Scripture stopped me right in my tracks:
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
It’s hard to imagine that so much of the stress and drama we experience in our lives will be temporary. We get stuck on what is happening right now. Especially as a Black woman living in spaces that remind me my skin color, hair texture, body type don’t match the status quo. I’m a mom raising a Black girl and Black boy in a time where they are not afforded the same childhood as their white counterparts. Because being Black in a white space is truly a real thing.
It’s hard to imagine things could be different. I remind myself to hold on to my faith. I fix my eyes on what is unseen because I know brighter days are ahead. On the days I feel most weary, “I wake up every morning and tell myself good morning, gorgeous” because I know I am being renewed in God’s image and likeness day by day. As the young folk I interact with day in and day out say, “it’s the affirmation for me”, or ``It's the positive vibes for me”, or ``It's giving … I need to prioritize self-care at all cost”... YES! The Scripture reminds us:
For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.
This means no matter what comes our way – turned down for a job opportunity, change in friendship circle, disagreement with a loved one – God has our back. God keeps us in a heavenly dwelling where our inner self is being renewed. When those around me don’t see me, and when I may struggle to see myself, God sees me (and you!)! This is good news!
Song: Good Morning Gorgeous by Mary J. Blige
Reflection Questions:
What do you do to recognize others who may not have as much cultural capital as you?
How does it change the way you relate and respond to various social justice issues?
What do you do to help yourself feel seen? How do you help others to feel seen?
Call to Action
Journal about at least one example in your life where society made you feel unseen. Now write out several examples in your life when you have felt deeply seen. Be sure to identify the person(s) and organization(s) that helped facilitate that affirmation in you. What was it about how they treated you that made you feel seen? Hold onto that throughout the day and try to intentionally summon this in how you treat yourself today to affirm your own existence both physically and spiritually.
About the Author
Kristal Moore Clemons, Ph.D. (she/her) is the National Director of the Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools. She is a Black Feminist, Intellectual, Wife, Mommy, Eva & Mildred's granddaughter, Professor, and CDF Freedom Schools Enthusiast.
Stay connected to Kristal:
IG: @krisclemonsphd
FB: Kristal Moore Clemons
These Black Lent devotionals were originally curated by IG: goodneighbormovement.