There's a large focus in the film around the Na'vi greeting and what it means. Of course I refer to "I see you"...
The explanation from James Cameron's Website explains it perfectly:
I See You is a greeting. In the Na'vi language, it is expressed Oel ngati kame for a neutral greeting or Oel ngati kameie to express a positive feeling about meeting someone. Furthermore, the Na'vi have two versions of the verb see:
- tse'a, which pertains to physical vision.
- kame, which means to see in a spiritual sense. It is more closely a synonym of "understand" or "comprehend."
The spiritual or understanding sight is the main focus of my thoughts today. We feel the call to be seen in all areas of our lives.
Our children, who are still honest enough to call us (repeatedly) to watch them jump, swing, and climb. Who call on us to see them. And not just for a moment with our physical vision. To see with our spiritual vision and understand how proud our children are to be doing what they do, and how desperately they want to share this with us.
Our friends, and family, who we visit. We go there to see them. Everyone of us, if we are honest, feels better when we are seen by others. Especially by our loved ones.
In a world that is filled with busy-ness we often see our phones, and the work we need to do. Or the social media content we need to keep up with.
See-ing is so much more than that, and should encompass more than just our little circle.
I’m sure all South Africans have noticed that on every street corner and at every robot there are beggars. Blind ones, amputees, burn victims, children, women with children, old men, old women black, white… so many. People handing out pamphlets, selling mobile car chargers, window washers.
We drive past them hardly even seeing them anymore because we are becoming so desensitised to these tragic people. We keep our windows up, glasses on and stare straight ahead. I watch these people as I drive by. Some keep their spirits up and make a joke of it for themselves to try and catch your eye. Most however are dejected and just go through the motions. Or even sit, or stand, on the side of the road staring into space.
Having been in dire straights myself I know how easily one goes from a comfortable life of food every day to a life of hunger and invisibility. It's all a series of unfortunate events that grind down the soul. This also leads to more and more people turning away, to friends "forgetting" your phone number, to family turning away. The lower I fell, the less I was seen. I was viewed as an inconvenience. As a beggar. Once even as someone who would take advantage of a roof over my head to steal. And it hurt. A lot.
Not my true friends, thankfully for me. They have kept in touch despite my trying to hide, and have seen me, and not just my situation.
Having learnt how invisibility feels, I know what a precious gift being seen really is.
So often we are in a rush. Time and acknowledgement of presence is often the first thing we stop giving other people. People are starved for contact, for time with another being, for touch. It’s the most valuable gift to give…. Your time. Eye contact, and listening. These are such rare commodities now days that this starved culture is finding a void inside their beings where this contact would normally be.
Think of kids of very successful parents who have all the electronic gadgets that money can buy. The stereotype of brat-ish kids whose parents are never around. The ones in movies that we usually feel sorry for because they just want their parents love and time. Not the latest iPad.
Think of the culture of substance abuse, especially among the lower echelons of society, who try and fill that void with any substance they can. Who are so unhappy in the real world they would rather take or drink anything to no longer be there. You don't need to condone substance abuse, or the ramifications from that. Just understand the cause. It might help treat the symptoms.
Instead of judging with your physical sight, try and understand with your spiritual sight.
Try it with your kids, loved ones, parents, and even beggars on the side of the road. Look them in the eye. See them. Give them a reason to feel seen for just a moment and make the biggest difference to more people than you could count when the ripple of acknowledgement spreads like wildfire.
One day at a time.
When I see my children I leave my phone in my bag, and spend hours playing with them, seeing them, listening to them. From this we have a very special relationship. My teen will freely tell me she loves me, and that I'm the best mom. I have fewer photo's with them, and more memories. We dance, and sing, and act silly just because.
I see them. And if we are to meet, as passer-by's at a shop, or on the street, I will see you too.
Beautifully written my friend! Here here!
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