Why I Show Up Without the Camera
Over the years, I’ve packed thousands of bags of food, handed out winter coats, prayed with strangers, and watched children light up after picking out a Christmas gift through Operation Santa.
Not once did I take a selfie.
It’s not because I’m shy or because I don’t believe in sharing good things. It’s because the work was never about me.
In a world where almost everything we do is photographed, posted, shared, and tracked, I’ve learned something sacred. Some of the most powerful, beautiful acts of purpose are the ones no one sees. No filter. No followers. Just you and God and the people you’re there to love.
The Culture of “Look at Me”
We live in a world that constantly says, “Show everyone what you’re doing.” And while I understand the heart behind raising awareness and inspiring others, I also see the pressure it puts on people to perform kindness instead of just living it.
I’ve been guilty of it too. That temptation to snap a picture while serving, or to write the perfect caption that sounds humble but still makes it clear you’re doing something good.
But real service doesn’t need a spotlight.
The more I grow in faith, the more I realize that true impact doesn’t need to be broadcast. It just needs to be done.
What I’ve Learned in the Quiet Places
Some of the most meaningful moments I’ve experienced happened far from a stage or a camera.
Like the woman at the food pantry who cried in my arms because it was the first time in weeks someone looked her in the eyes and asked, “How are you doing?”
Or the child who whispered “thank you” when I handed them a toy picked out just for them.
Or the tired father who held back tears as he carried home a holiday meal that he didn’t think he’d be able to give his family.
No one else saw those moments. There were no likes, no shares, no trending hashtags. But God saw them. And I felt Him in every single one.
Love Isn’t Always Loud
We often think that love is something bold and flashy. But more often, love is quiet.
It’s staying late to clean up after everyone’s gone home.
It’s organizing bins of donated toys for hours without anyone saying thank you.
It’s checking in on someone when there’s nothing in it for you.
I’ve come to believe that God does His best work through people who are willing to serve without needing attention. People who show up with a full heart, not a full camera roll.
When No One Applauds
Let’s be honest. Sometimes it’s hard to keep going when no one notices. You give and give and give, and at times it feels like you’re invisible.
But I’ve learned that just because people don’t applaud doesn’t mean God isn’t smiling.
In Matthew 6, Jesus says, “When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
That verse has carried me through the moments when I felt unseen. It reminded me that we don’t serve for praise, we serve because it’s who we’re called to be.
The Freedom of Letting Go of Credit
When you no longer need credit, you’re free.
You’re free to focus on the why instead of the who’s watching.
You’re free to pour into others without expecting anything in return.
You’re free to let God get all the glory, and that’s where real fulfillment comes from.
Operation Santa didn’t grow because of promotion. It grew because of consistency, prayer, and the love of people who believed in doing the right thing quietly and faithfully.
There’s a power in that kind of purpose. It doesn’t burn out because it wasn’t fueled by ego in the first place.
Encouragement for the Quiet Servers
If you’re someone who shows up behind the scenes, who packs meals, folds clothes, prays with people, or helps organize but never gets mentioned, this is for you.
You are seen. You are known. Your work matters.
You are building something eternal. And even if the world never claps, Heaven is celebrating you.
Keep going. Keep loving. Keep showing up.
Serve Like No One’s Watching
The world may never know your name. You may never trend or go viral. But if your heart is in the right place, none of that matters.
Serve with humility. Love without needing attention. Show up without the selfie.
Because some of the most powerful work you’ll ever do will happen in rooms where only God sees it. And that, my friend, is more than enough.