I See You

Avatar is a 2009 American epic science fiction film written and directed by James Cameron. The film broke several box office records during its release and became the highest-grossing film of all time, surpassing Titanic.  Avatar was nominated for nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, and won three, for Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects, and Best Art Direction.

The film is set in the mid-22nd century, when humans are mining a precious mineral called unobtanium on Pandora, a lush habitable moon of a gas giant in the Alpha Centauri star system.  The expansion of the mining colony threatens the continued existence of a local tribe of Na’vi—a humanoid species indigenous to Pandora. The film’s title refers to the genetically engineered Na’vi-human hybrid bodies used by a team of researchers to interact with the natives of Pandora.

One thing that struck me about the Na’vi was their greeting, “I see you.”  As explained in the film, this greeting is translated as “I see the image of God in you”.  What a great way to greet and engage with people.  It got me thinking about how we ‘see’ others. How we ‘see’ God is all about how we ‘know God’ and then how we make him known.  Here’s my reflection:

I See You

To You who hung the stars
And know each of them by name
I see You –
In the starry night
As you guide me home again

To You who walks beside me
Along this narrow way
I see You –
In your Word
As it lights my path today

To You who moves my mountains
When my faith is weak and small
I see You –
As you shape my world
Let me hear You when You call