The Watchman Who Notices The Quiet Ones
The Watchman Who Notices The Quiet Ones
The Watchman Who Notices The Quiet Ones
“So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel.”
—Ezekiel 33:7
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There is a kind of silence that only a watchman hears.
Not the peaceful kind. The heavy kind. The kind that settles over a person who used to laugh easily, who used to show up, who used to shine.
A watchman doesn’t climb the wall to be important. He climbs because someone inside the walls needs protecting. His calling is simple: notice what others overlook.
And today, the Church desperately needs people who notice.
We have become experts at seeing what is wrong outside our walls. But inside? Behind the worship? Behind the sermons? Behind the Sunday smiles?
People are hurting quietly.
Some are carrying wounds no one sees. Some are hiding battles they don’t know how to name. Some are withdrawing because they don’t feel safe. Some are children who learned too early that adults don’t always protect them. Some are women who were harmed by men they trusted. Some are survivors who were told to stay silent for the sake of the church’s reputation.
A watchman hears that silence.
He doesn’t pry. He doesn’t investigate. He doesn’t control.
He simply loves enough to pay attention.
Sometimes being a watchman means noticing when someone’s joy dims. Sometimes it means asking a second question when the first answer is “I’m fine.” Sometimes it means gently saying, “I see you withdrawing. What’s going on?” And sometimes it means sounding the alarm because something happening behind closed doors is not right.
Awareness does not create panic. Awareness creates safety.
Most people don’t know this: If you are sexually assaulted in a congregation and you are between the ages of 18 and 65, many churches are not legally required to report it to local law enforcement. They can keep it quiet. They can protect their image. They can silence victims. They can allow predators to roam the halls.
Being aware of this does not weaken the Church. It strengthens it. It protects the vulnerable. It keeps children safe. It keeps women safe. It keeps the elderly safe. It keeps the wounded from being wounded again.
As many of you know, I was, Chaplain Tammy, sexually assaulted at my former church. That experience ignited a calling to protect women, children, the elderly, and the vulnerable, and to change the laws that allow churches to hide abuse. This Watchman series is part of that calling.
Because watchmen don’t look away. Watchmen don’t protect appearances. Watchmen don’t pretend the walls are safe when they aren’t.
Watchmen love enough to see. Watchmen love enough to speak. Watchmen love enough to stay awake.
And God still says, “So you, son of man, I have made a watchman.”
If you feel that stirring in your spirit, you’re not alone. The Church needs your eyes. The vulnerable need your voice. The walls need your vigilance.
If this devotional speaks to you, come join the conversation on our Facebook page. Your voice matters. Your story matters. Your awareness matters. And together, we can make the Church a safer place for everyone behind its walls.
Until next time… Holy Hugs.