My friend, Hal, is a noticer. I am not. For example, he and his wife traveled with us this weekend. As we checked into a hotel, he immediately noticed the desk clerk was wearing an unusual watch. I had not noticed anything about the clerk. Hal made a comment and the man’s face beamed (I guess I did notice something). He had ordered a new watch band and had put it on just a few hours earlier. He was proud to display it to us.
Entering and leaving restaurants takes a little longer with Hal because he stops to comment on the t-shirts of each patron. Again, I think I was aware they were all wearing shirts, I just didn’t know what kind. Hal likes people. No, strike that, he loves people. It’s a spiritual gift that enables him to also share his love of God.
People want to be known. It is true that Adam and Eve hid from God in the garden, but that was because they thought God would hate them. When they found out how wrong they were about God, they longed to be found. King David also wanted to be known. He wrote, “O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.” (Psalm 139:1-2) His reaction was to declare, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me.” (verse 6)
Are you a noticer? It is a gift worth cultivating. Romans 12:10 reminds us, “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” Who have you honored today?