Building One Another  

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. I Thessalonians 5:11

The Art of Being a Noticer!

Dear Friend,                        

My mother traveled frequently after my father died and enjoyed many of the great cities and sites of our world. She told me one day she had observed two kinds of travelers, the collectors and the noticers.

A collector has to see everything: every point of interest, every special site, every museum and every exhibit. They rush through countless sights “collecting” them, in essence taking a quick picture, checking off the sight-seeing list and moving on.

A noticer notices, takes the time to observe and to reflect, is not in a hurry and makes no effort to “see it all.” In accord with Simon and Garfunkel’s words, “Slow down, you move too fast…" the noticer wants to see and to see deeply.

You may be a collector as you rush along trying to pack everything into your life because of FUMO (Fear of Missing Out).

You may be a noticer like Jesus, who at times had a lot going on, yet who takes the time to look and to see what actually is going on around you and especially in the lives of the people in your world. Noticing is at the very heart of encouragement!

When we “notice” people and respond by encouraging them, we have the “people eyes” of Jesus, seeing people through the eyes of Jesus and responding as he responds.

Ask the Lord who notices and loves you to open your eyes and help you be a noticer too.

Joy to you - Stan

© Copyright 2021 E. Stanley Ott

Scripture from the ESV

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1. As you think about your own approach to travel, are you a collector or a notice?
2. In what ways may you become more aware, more of a noticer in the lives of the people around you.

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Photo by Edi Libedinsky on Unsplash