A friend asked me recently what insight I've gained after having been diagnosed with cancer. How my view might have changed. I really had to think about that question. Maybe it's too early. Not sure what will change as I continue down this journey, but I do know what has been placed on my heart and some of what God began working in me in the past few years.
I began thinking about perspective. This pondering led me to realizing the similarities between mirrors and windows. They are both made out of glass, right? Mirrors have a reflective coating on the back and windows are transparent. The bottom line is that we see ourselves in a mirror and other see us through a window. The same person is seen in pieces of glass, right? Then why does the person appear different when viewed through each one?
Have you ever had the experience of having people tell you how great you are? or how much you should work on improving this or that? The advice from people who view you through the window. What do you see when you look in the mirror? Do you see how great you are or do you see a super long list of things you could improve on? Some people's windows are decorated to portray themselves a certain way. Some have the glass covered by a wall that they've built up and words of caution to not attempt breaking the wall down.
When some people see their own reflection, they see pretty designs in attempt to help distract from clarity as they observe themselves. If there are flowers or pretty pictures on the mirror, then maybe it will improve the view, they feel. When we focus more on the art, we don't have to look so hard at what we see in ourselves.As Christians, we're called to be transparent in our lives. If we're living transparently, then what is viewed through the mirror and the window should be seen the same. Do we show our faults/struggles to others or to ourselves? Do we show our gifts/talents to ourselves or others? Are we transparent to others? Are we transparent to ourselves? Are we transparent to God? God sees it all anyway. Why do we hide? Can we accept the faults inside? Many of us focus on the faults. I know I tend to. That makes it more difficult to focus on the gifts and talents that may be hiding behind the glass. Why do we do that? Why is it so difficult to accept who we've been created to be?
"I'm an open book to you; even from a distance, you know what I'm thinking.You know when I leave and when I get back; I'm never out of your sight.You know everything I'm going to say before I start the first sentence.I look behind me and you're there, then up ahead and you're there, too-your reassuring presence, coming and going." ~ Psalm 139:2-5 (MSG)
