What Do You See?

I honestly don’t know if it’s self protection on my part or if God has blessed me with the ability to think that I’m thinner than I actually am. I have these shocking moments of clarity when I catch my reflection in a mirror or pass by a store window. I am amazed how the image that I see is so different than what I had in my mind. Whether it's a dressing room mirror or a candid photograph - why am I always caught off guard?

I’ve been thinking a lot recently about “personal blindness.” I really do believe that this personal and spiritual sight impairment is so prevalent it could easily be considered an epidemic. I continue to be surprised at how we can see other people’s short-comings and inconsistencies so easily and be completely blind to our own.

I am reminded of the story of King David and Bathsheba. Restless one night, David is pacing the roof of his palace from where he has a view of the homes and gardens in the city below. And there he spies a beautiful woman bathing. She is the wife of one of his generals, Uriah, who is way at war.

David sends for Bathsheba and spends the night with her. When she becomes pregnant, he commands that Uriah be placed on the front lines, where he dies in battle. David then marries Bathsheba.

At this point, the prophet Nathan pays a call on the king. (See 2 Samuel 12.) He says that he has come to inform the king of a great injustice in the land. A rich man with many sheep stole the one beloved sheep of a poor man, and had it slaughtered for a feast.

Furious at what he hears, King David declares, "As God lives, the one who has done this deserves death."

The prophet Nathan responds, "You are that man!"

David is humbled. He says, "I have sinned before God."

It isn’t that self-evaluation is always inaccurate; it just may not be the whole picture. It has been said that if you want to see an accurate picture of yourself ask your spouse or a family member. Many times our own personal self-assessment may not be as accurate as someone who sees us on a regular basis, or better yet, lives under the same roof. Our challenge is to allow others close enough to be a mirror so that we can see ourselves more accurately. This is a little tricky because it takes relationships that are based on humility, honesty and trust. When faced with the perspective reflected from someone we love and trust, we can accurately assess ourselves and make the needed changes that continue to move us ever closer to being more like Christ and more congruent in our beliefs and our behavior.

Comments

[George]

Dennis,

A great post. You are such a good writer.

By the way, thanks for your comments on my last post. I appreciate it!

[chris fountain]

I've read over this multiple times now and every time it really strikes home with me. I have been enjoying our small group study " no perfect people" and felt that I was realing aplying the concept of extending grace vs tolerance in my daily life. I had been sharing with some of my coworkers how I was trying to make this change in my interations with others. Without asking one of those co-workers reminded me ( when I was not extending grace) how imprortant it was for me to stay on that new path. She was my Nathan. I now find myself taking the time to examine my motives in my daily relationship choices, trying to take self out and put others needs infront of my own. It's an uphill battle.
Thank you so much for you openess and insight.

[jonathan.dale]

great piece. i completely agree that a preconceived idea of the way that we look both physically and spiritually can be a little frightening before we have a 'second opinion'. i found that after i did boot camp i knew i had lost weight but it wasnt until people started to comment on it that it became more of a reality of how darn sexy i am sometimes. anyway i think that it would a great 2007 father/son 'venture to keep one another accountable for eachothers physical and spiritual images. Lord knows i need someone in my life to keep me in check and by the time im done with you, you'll be dead sexy... GREAT insight and keep the blogs arunnin.