Sometimes it is so easy to only see yourself when looking at a mirror.
I do my make-up in the mornings before work, and it is so easy to see my blemishes on the outside, and as I am doing my eye-liner, and I look into my eyes, I see the weakness and strengths of my soul, and at times my mind will ping-pong and race between my value, worth, and it bounces back from grace and utter garbage at times.
When my mind races, and I feel like life is out of control, my eyes will see an image in the background, and it begins to take shape as my eyes begin to focus, eyes, a face, a body, it is my husband. I see him in our room, and I am reminded that I am not alone in this world, in this universe. I am fueled by his strength, and I am grounded with the fact that he needs me just as much as I need him. I am reminded that I am not the only one going through a season; he is, too.
With that reminder, my mind begins to pause on this inward spiral, and it begins to unravel and untangle itself. Life begins to make sense, and my mind becomes clearer, smoother; I begin to feel my heart and soul move vertically and horizontally in an expression of prayer, meditation, solitude, heaven kissing earth.
I realize that my life’s mirror isn’t meant for me to only see me and my season, but it is meant to be a beacon to really see the soul and season of others.
Mirrors are created to reflect what is in front, and it is meant for our eyes to have the ability to examine, to look within, to see one’s beauty, frailty, and everything in between.
Our lives can become like mirrors where all we see is ourselves, what we are going through, our goals, our weekly plans, our desires. It can blind us as times of what is going on with others. If all we do is consistently look into our life’s mirror, we become blind and numb. We get easily agitated by others because we become so engrossed in our own problems that we feel that our season takes precedence over anyone else’s.
We begin to compete with other people’s seasons because they don’t know what “we are going through”. We find it hard to celebrate with other people’s mountain-top seasons, and yet we feel to be too apathetic to comfort other in their valley-low seasons.
But guess what, when we look only into our mirror and never dare to point it towards others, we will never be able to love intentionally and consistently because we won’t be aware of what others are going through.
I have gone through tough seasons of loved ones going through extreme hardships, grandparents health depleting, finances being at complete scarcity, prayers needing to be answered, urgent care emergency visits happening sporadically, hectic and soul-draining transitions the last few years, and yet I have blatantly and intentionally chosen to redirect my mirror, my view of my world.
It is so easy and convenient to direct our life’s mirror inward, to look deeply at what we need, lack, feel, and desire. It is not easy or convenient to redirect our life’s mirror towards others, to stay curious, and being willing to pour into other people’s seasons. It takes intention and a mindful heart to be willing to direct the mirror to reflect someone else’s soul.
I know I can’t operate in intentional and fearless love towards others when all I see is my season.
When I look into my life’s mirror too long, I feel more selfish, more self-absorbed and less present. I feel like I miss out on opportunities when I can text a friend to reach out about their week, to make room on my schedule to spend time to journey along their season.
Please don’t hear what I am not saying. Self-care and self-reflection is vital to get current with yourself in order to get filled back up again. When I feel hard pressed, I do take the time to look within. It is so healthy and needed to self-reflect and find a place to lay down those fears and burdens, but don’t stay there.
Redirect your life’s mirror this week and peer outside your season. Everyone is going through something, and we all need community. We all need that person to be a rock, a smile, a reminder of value, a light at the end of a dark tunnel. You have no idea what others are going through, so take the time to redirect your mirror.
“When hard pressed, I cried to the LORD; he brought me into a spacious place.”