April 24, 2024

Who did you notice this week? Who noticed you? Who were you able to call by name? Who called you by name? Being seen, being acknowledged, known and remembered helps us build community. Do you notice the name tags worn by employees when you are going about your daily lives? Being called by our name is gift we can receive and gift we can give. Perhaps there are people you regularly see but don’t know their names. Notice after you find out their name the difference it makes in brightening your day and someone else’s day! Talk directly to a person.  If a child, someone using a wheelchair, someone sitting down, meet them at eye level so they don’t have to always be looking up. Building relationships can start with learning each other’s name. How can you add to the knowledge, a kind question? Offer a complement or acknowledgement of appreciation? Keep building beloved community! In your community of faith, are people wearing name tags? Beyond name tags, how does your community of faith intentionally create community that invites and welcomes everyone to know they are needed,  valued, belong, able to  be themselves, to be comfortable, and to be safe?