The Superpower of Super Recognition

“But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.” - Psalms 39:7 NIV

In a chronically workshopped blog post I wrote three years ago , I shared my superpower. No, it’s not my penchant for difficult puzzles or my ability to turn any product or google review into a novela. My superpower is my ability to locate and find my loved ones in a crowd, no matter how big or loud. I am a self-declared super recognizer, but not just of faces; I can spot my people by their sneeze, gait, or hairline.  I’m sure this stems from sneaking away from my mom one too many times while grocery shopping as a child (cue images of me shrieking in a toy aisle and Walmart customer service reps over the loudspeaker) . 

Of course, this gift comes in handy at concerts, the state fair, at Costco, and on vacation. In the past year, however, I have realized that this “super recognition” gift doesn’t just serve me externally, but can be a special tool to employ from a mental, emotional, and spiritual perspective as well. Take for example, the practice of gratitude journaling ( a habit I’ve been slowly developing for who knows how long). This is a  conscious act of scanning through one’s day with all of its hiccups and heartbreaks, and finding at least one event, person, or circumstance that evokes a “but at least there was ____, and I’m grateful for it”. This rhythm, heralded by psychologists and therapists as a powerful reframing tool, only exemplifies the biblical concept of giving thanks in all circumstances, and being sorrowful yet rejoicing. 

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” - Psalm 34:18 NIV 

I would argue that the entire Bible is a historical account of super recognition. My mind wanders to Hagar, an innocent slave woman impregnated by her envious master’s husband only to be mistreated, necessitating her running away into the wilderness. As Hagar wandered through a desert, running low on hope, she received encouragement and comfort from God. In the midst of a plan that made no earthly sense, Hagar recognized that she was known and loved by El Roi, a God who saw her. 

“She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.’” -(Genesis 16:13 NIV).

Moses and the Israelites recognized (albeit slowly at times) God’s provision on their voyage out of Egypt. A burning bush, a cloud over the tabernacle. 

“In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted. So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels.”  - Exodus 40:36-38 NIV

Elijah, after seeking the Lord in a grandiose wind, earthquake, and fire, recognized the voice of  the Lord in a gentle whisper. 

“The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord , for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord , but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.” - 1 Kings 19:11-12 NIV

Mary, a virgin teenager, engaged and pregnant, was strengthened by the Lord to recognize her part in His grand plans for humanity. Her super-recognition of God’s hand is captured exquisitely in the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55 NIV). 

And then there’s Jesus. Whether it was crowds of followers or mobs of anger, rejection, ridicule, and being misunderstood, Jesus often found himself surrounded. He was disciplined to escape and  find his moments of solitude with God, but he was fully God and man also recognized the redemption that would come of him going straight through the messy world he came to save. Because he loves us more than we can even conceptualize, he wasn’t distracted by naysayers and haters. He didn’t pretend to smile through the idea of being arrested, beaten, and crucified, but he recognized the salvation that he would give to the world by dying for our sins. In the midst of a chaotic present, He recognized a glorious eternity.  

“...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” -(Hebrews 12:2 NIV). 

In my experience, sometimes what keeps someone from pursuing a relationship with Jesus is not being able to comprehend why a gracious, loving God could allow certain tragedies to happen. As someone whose ancestors endured chattel slavery, Jim Crow and more, I can relate. Sadly, I don’t have an answer to the why for the awful events or awful people who orchestrate them. What I know with all my heart, however, is that God is always God, and He redeems ugliness, injustice, pain, despair, loss, sorrow, those who misrepresent His name and character, and everything else that is not like him for our good and His glory. He is never surprised or neglectful. He sent His only son Jesus Christ to die an excruciating death on a cross to draw us nearer to everlasting life with Him out of love. He ultimately recognized, in the midst of a fallen, broken world, that we humans can be full of light when we are full of Him. 

At the risk of projecting, most of us could describe some aspect of our lives (internal or external) as a chaotic present. A simple news scroll can confirm this. No injustice, loss, or natural disaster should be minimized or smothered with “positive spin.” Some things frankly just suck. And yet – amid an increase in hate rhetoric, we can recognize encouragement in an overall statistical decrease in violent crimes. We can recognize humanity in a helpful neighbor saying hello and people giving their time to assist with relief after turmoil. In the middle of a (self-imposed) travel snafu, I can appreciate a gentleman asking if anyone in our row needs to make a tight connecting flight before he stands up to block the aisle. While grieving deeply and wiping tears at a funeral, hearts are lifted with the warmest giggle from a jovial infant. With all the din accompanying a massive political change and its implications, it is not selfish or delusional to delight in the resurfacing of a favorite musical. The best music teachers can recognize a beautiful sound even surrounded by noise. 

As I wrap up this blog post, it is 5:44 AM and I am battling insomnia (still, and again). I’ve only recently begun to attach a label to this plight, which makes it feel both more valid and more weighty. Hear me clearly when I say I am feeling exhausted, frustrated, and uncomfortable. I am tired of trying to function when I feel dizzy with fatigue. In the midst of this literal dark season, I am donning my cape and flexing my superpower once more. In this lethargic fog, I can still recognize God’s grace in providing a sacred quiet time for reflecting, writing, and simply being. I can recognize a slow, steady heartbeat promising I am significantly more alive than I feel. I am relishing in the steam from a mug of black tea boiled to a perfect 212 degrees, warming my core. And I rest (mentally, at least) in gratitude that my schedule will allow me time for an indulgent nap later today. 

As we enter a new year in which so much of what we are seeing and hearing is unrecognizable, I hope you endure with the help of your own superpower of super recognition. Reject toxic positivity, but rejoice in the morsels of hope that promise a better tomorrow. 

Here’s to always recognizing a resilient love that will never fail. 

-Raven 

“ Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.”- Psalms 62:5 NIV