Mirrors. They are such a lovely thing. They help you get ready in the morning. You find out if you have stains on your shirt or if your socks don’t match. They also help you see how you look.
I remember when I was younger and I was searching for something under the sink. I was perplexed that was I was looking for was not there and made a face. As I stood up, I still had that perplexed look upon my face and saw myself in the mirror. I couldn’t believe this was the face others saw when I made this face! I then wondered to myself how I looked when I smiled. So, I proceeded to smile and then watched myself. This went on as I made compassionate looks, sad looks, and even laughter. Sad to say, I spent a long time in front of the mirror that day. Unfortunately, though, I found some looks that were less than flattering, so I decided I should practice changing my reactions so that I would look better in the process.
This might seem appropriate to most of us. I mean, really, who doesn’t want to look their best as much as possible? Through the years, I must confess, I have continued to prep my looks in front of the mirror. To my dismay, there are some looks that are just not becoming to a lady; although, some looks are just necessary. But, why the fixation on always looking the best? Think about it for a moment. This is why we make sure we look great in a picture before posting on Facebook, or why we tend to look at ourselves first in a group picture before deciding if we like it or not. So, is this a fixable problem, or just the norm in our society?
I was listening to a song the other day by a group called Tenth Avenue North called “House of Mirrors.” It was written by Mike Donehey, Jason Jamison, Jeff Owen and Scott Sanders; all members of the band. Read the words for yourself:
You can’t seem to see past your own reflection
Caught up in the halls of your introspection
And you’re staring at your mirror on the wall
Asking “who is the fairest of them all?”
‘Cause Lord I know, it’s not me
If only you could see
That you’ve already been set free
Well come on, come on
Let’s throw our mirrors down
Yeah come on, come on
Let’s shatter the glass on the ground
Well you say “hold on, if I could just try this one thing.
Well I know I can change and that would change everything”
But a house made of mirrors never helped you see any clearer
It’s yourself you can’t see past
And Lord, isn’t that just like me?
If only we could see, that He’s already set us free
Well come on, come on
Let’s throw our mirrors down
Yeah come on, come on
Let’s shatter the glass on the ground
Oh, oh Freedom’s waiting for you now
So come on, come on
And throw your mirrors down
Come on, if you’re tired take a step outside
You might find that you can forget about yourself tonight
Oh, come on if you’re tired of failed attempts to try
Freedom’s waiting when you look outside
(Repeat)
Well come on, come on
Let’s throw our mirrors down
Yeah come on, come on
Let’s shatter the glass on the ground
Oh, oh Freedom’s waiting for you now
So come on, come on and throw your mirrors down
What part of the song stuck out to you? I particularly like the wording, “But a house made of mirrors never helped you see any clearer. It’s yourself you can’t see past.” We try so many times to fix our lives by looking at our lives through introspection. We make lists of how we can better ourselves; in effect, we look in the mirror and try to make a better, prettier face. Through all of this trying, though, we are constantly looking at ourselves. I, for one, am tired of looking at myself. I’m tired of trying to fix all my problems on my own. I want to throw the mirror down, shatter the glass on the ground and look outside. There is freedom there because God is there. He is waiting for me to see Him and not me. He’s waiting to give me freedom. Do you long for God’s freedom?
© 2012 Susan M. Sims
Image courtesy of marin at freedigitalphotos.net
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