They’re Watching You

29. September 2009 by BruceSmith.

They’re Watching You

Riding in the car while taking my daughter to ballet today, and enduring my daughter’s new fixation with country music, I was intrigued by a “story song” we heard which told of a father coming to the vivid realization that his child was watching his life very closely.  As the song begins the father tells of driving with his son in the truck (as country music fans are accustomed to driving), being forced to hit the brakes, having the son’s drive-through dinner hit the dash and spill everywhere, and then hearing his son shout out a four letter word descriptive of poop.  The dad, horrified by his four year old’s language, asks, “Where did you learn to talk like that?!”  To which the son, grinning, replied, “I learned that word from you dad.  I want to talk like you…I want to be just like you.”  

As the song develops, the son goes on to tell of more ways he wants to be like his dad, some admirable and heart-warming.  The song, simple and yet profound, is a clear reminder that “they are watching us”.  And its not just our kids.  They are all watching us.  

If you read Acts 2:42-48 you will notice that the life of the Church is depicted as an intentional, generous, worship focused, service oriented, and inspiring reality.  Moreover, if you look closely, and read carefully, you will notice something very powerful.  Those characterized as the unchurched in the passage are termed “onlookers”.  That is to say, those in the surrounding community, were watching, closely watching, the lives of those in the church.  Like the son in the country music song, people watch the lives of those who are supposed to demonstrate leadership and character.  The passage in Acts actually goes on to say that those looking in, “watched with awe” as the Church went about doing life in the real world.  The Church had a wow factor because of the way believers lived in the early Church.  As a result, the last verse reads, “…and the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved”.  

Some people shudder at the fact that their lives are on display.  Others enjoy being seen.  But the reality of every life is clear; people see us, like it or not.  Our lives, our speech, our way of living, our interactions with others…they all speak of what our lives are about and what defines us.  Like it or lump it (as my country style grandma used to say)…its true.  What we do is noticed.  Who we are is seen.  It matters.

I have heard some interesting things from the mouths of babes.  Not too long ago, I was a bit taken aback when a very smallish young lady told me, “Cursing is fun!”  Another little one I encountered recently seemed to be thrilled with the ability to say, “What the hell?”  And not too long ago, while hanging out with a group of  teens, I was amazed at the ease with which they dropped F bombs and other vulgarities while in the company of adults.  Who have these teenagers  been watching, I have often thought to myself.  Some months ago while standing in line at the movies I overheard a teen in line speaking like he had no moral compass whatsoever and on top of that was showing off to the hotties around him by bashing on “those stupid christians kids” at his school.  I was shocked to note it was a christian leaders son!  I thought two things, “Did someone model this kind of human interaction for him?” and “Who would want to associate with that kind of mouth and character display, does he really think he is impressing these girls?”  On a better note, I have spent time with young ones who have demonstrated such intelligence, grace, and social poise that I just knew someone was modeling a quality life for them.  And recently, I have been encouraged by the surprising depth and insight of my own little ten year old who regularly surprises me with her wisdom and perception.  She seems to be catching the values we aspire to in the home, at her Christian school, and at church.  Its a joy to watch.  

Its not only the little people who watch us, however.  We all have spheres of influence where our lives are on display.  At work, on the tennis court, in the gym, at parties, at dinners, company functions, …everywhere we are we have an audience.  The call for the Christian, in light of this reality, is to recognize, rejoice in, and fully accept the call to lead others to “see” Christ in us as we live our daily lives.  As we live fully for our Audience of One, we show off the grace, generosity, and life-giving power of Christ.  To the extent we demonstrate His character in our lives others are drawn to Him more and more.  Its not an option, and its not avoidable.  Our lives do count, one way or another.  

I have often wondered if my life is having any effect for good on those I come into contact with.  I fully admit, I want my life to count for something, something good.  We all do I think.  I want my life to leave a mark on those I encounter.  I desire for people to see Christ in me because I know His life is the only hope for any of us.  But, as a fallen, broken, and imperfect man, I know I rarely live up to His ideal for me.  That being so, I am always thrilled when, by God’s grace, something I write, say, do, or share actually impacts the life of another person.  Those moments make it all worth while.  Conversely, I am painfully aware when my example causes someone else to misinterpret who Christ is and what the Christian life is all about.  Seems like those are the moments I am all too aware people are watching.

Recently, I have had the sheer joy of being reminded of what effect the good I demonstrate, only by His grace, brings about.  Someone who I have spent a good deal of time around, and who has had some hard times, recently thanked me for living a “good life” in front of them and raising the bar high for them.  What a sense of absolute contentment it is to know that despite my imperfections, God in me, has seen fit to make Himself known through what little good I am able to accomplish.  Knowing that the grace He gives enables me to live a consistent and godly life (to whatever extent I do this), that occasionally enriches the lives of others, is as good as it gets.  Any accolades, awards, prizes, titles, gains of any sort, absolutely fade away in light of this reality.  To know that your life speaks of the love and grace of God to others is an utterly fulfilling reality.

So here is the question for each of us, in light of the fact that our lives do matter, “What are they seeing?”  When people see our lives, do they see people who are all about the fun, the next party, the next chance to get smashed, the next promotion, the next thrill, the next accomplishment, the new car, the bigger house…?  What do they hear us talking about?  Do they hear conversations filled with news of God at work in our lives?  Or do they hear coarse talking, cursing, crude joking, gossip, back-biting, character demolition, and other meaningless jibberish which, besides demonstrating a lack of intelligence, a lack of verbal creativity, and a lazy use of the English language, also fails to demonstrate what the scripture calls us to in thought, word and deed, “If anything is good, noble, pure, excellent, or praiseworthy… thing on (and talk about) these things”.  

We have the privilege of knowing that God calls each of us to leadership and inspirational living in the places He has put us in.  Our lives count!  We all desire to know that we are not here just taking up space.  In God’s economy, in the Kingdom of God, His kids have a destiny and a purpose built into every breath.  Yes, every breath.  Every interaction.  Every response.  Every attitude.  It all speaks of who we are, and whose we are.  Lets live in such a way that our lives call others to take note of Him.  Lets live in such a way that when the going gets tough for those we do life with, they know who to turn to and where to find answers.  Lets so enjoy the life He has blessed us with that our passion for Him is undeniable.  May God in us be so visible that what was true of the early church is also true of our lives, “…many signs and miraculous works were being done by the apostles, and all those in the community looked on with awe…the church had favor with all the people…and He added daily to those being saved.”  That is our calling and our privilege.  

Bruce Smith

optimuslife.org

soulstormsite.com

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