Reflections on a Mirror

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If your mum was anything like mine, you grew up with your stunning 5-year-old fashion sense
constantly being challenged. "Don't wear plaid with polka dots," "your socks need to match," "petticoats do not go on your head" (yeah, it was a phase...) - it seemed there were always rules about what did and did not constitute an outfit. Even in my attempts to comply, I was rather flummoxed in following the "Laws of Acceptable Fashion," soon learning that such a feat was harder than it seemed.

The most obvious way to be mom-approved (an incontestable requirement for 5-year-olds) was to run through the list of individual dos and don'ts. Was I wearing plaid with polka dots? Did my socks match? Were there petticoats on my head? Never mind that my socks were dirty, or that my plethora of colors clashed at every intersection - if I was within the Laws of Acceptable Fashion, the girl reflected in the mirror felt satisfied and savvy. Inevitably, when mum would catch a glimpse of the eyesore I called an outfit, she would be scandalized. "What are you wearing?!" And I, having felt confident in my compliance with the rules, would have no idea what she meant.

Clearly, simply focusing on the rules wasn't creating a classy style, so what was a girl to do? As I grew, I learned the key to a good outfit involved not merely evaluating individual pieces, but stepping back, outside of the "rules," to view my outfit as a whole. Does this shirt and skirt look good together? Do I match overall - from hair-bows to shoelaces? Carefully, I would head downstairs, keenly aware of my every accessory, and there await evaluation.

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"For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was..."

What causes men and women to look in the mirror, walk away, and immediately forget what their style is? What attitude or perspective determines that one's appearance is not worth a single thought throughout the day? Could it be that mere "hearers", like the 5-year-old-fashionista, are so sure their reflections are flawless, following every "rule," that they simply can't be bothered to consider them again? Of course, as it concerns actual mirrors and styles, I think this approach preferable; but as it concerns my spiritual attitude, I find it convicting.

Are we like the rich young ruler, who looked at the the Laws of Acceptable Behavior and didn't even know what he was missing? Interestingly, the word "law" used in this passage of James means "parceling" - a breaking up of our King's character into smaller pieces: pieces our finite minds can understand. However, when I look into the mirror of the law and consider only the individual dos and don'ts, will I notice if my spiritual socks are dirty with discontentment? Will I be aware that I've given imbalanced attention to the petticoats of works by wearing them on my head?

Will I see my great need to be adorned by His great grace?

"...But he who looks in to the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does."

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To be perfect is to be complete. When we look at our reflections in the law, not as individual dos and don'ts, but as pieces that describe a complete Character so entirely infinite that it dazzles the comprehension, will we feel "satisfied and savvy" with the  faces looking back at us? Will we walk away and "immediately forget" what kind of men and women we are? Or will it cause us to continue there, studying the perfect One, being changed into His likeness, seeking His adornment?

How do you look in the mirror?

The Love That Knows

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"And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense til the day of Christ..." - Philippians 1:9-10

How does my love abound in knowledge and all discernment?

I don't just want a succinct, theological answer. I'm not looking for a catchy slogan or profound motto to become my life catch-phrase. And I'm only remotely interested in what the great theologians of old have laid out as doctrine on the subject. That is not the point. My question is both smaller and bigger than a simple explanation/expounding of the Greek. What do I do, how does my life look different, where do I aim, for my love to abound within these qualifications? What do I say or do with Suzy as a result of having a knowledgeable, discerning love for her? My love has to encapsulate far more than good fellowship and similar tastes, surely. It must constantly be looking beyond the immediate moment and situation, and remembering its origin and purpose - that we both may know our Father more. A love full of knowledge and discernment envisions what a person can become in Christ, and kindly, relentlessly, sharpens and pushes her toward that goal. It involves confrontation - from which I shrink - with tact & sensitivity - which are not my gifts. How do I learn these things??

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But it is more than even this, I think.

To have a love abounding "in knowledge and all discernment" is not merely for the benefit of the person I am to love. A discerning love may well allow me to know when and what to say to Suzy, should the need arise, but it is equally necessary for my relationship with Christ. Suppose Suzy will not be challenged? Suppose she cannot, will not, seek the LORD for all areas of her life? Suppose she refuses to surrender certain likes, tendencies, and dreams? If I love her mindlessly, as it were, ignorant of where such actions lead or unaware of how I ought to respond, I will first accept, then approve, then adopt her way of life. This is the only possible outcome of a mindless love. A love built solely on shared histories, events, tastes, and times. A love with no anchor in morality. A rootless love: it either withers or destroys.

Springing from the LORD, growing constantly in wisdom - it is this caliber of love which enables me to not only see my friend clearly, but also have the vision (eternal eyes) with which to respond to and love her. If Suzy is not willing to rise through the challenges, this love will give me the wisdom of how to interact with her, and that Christ-taught response may be what softens her heart. And if my eyes are on the LORD and how He would have me to love her, I will have the discernment to know where I personally need to draw boundaries in my relationship with her.

So much for the good of wisdom and discernment in loving all those the LORD has placed in my path. My question remains the same: How do I learn to love deeply, with knowledge and discernment? Since this principle comes directly from the Word, I am sure to find the answer there. This, my friends whom I love, is what I have been pondering on lately.

NOT a Five Minute Friday {Rambling}

"It's really time for you to post something besides 'Five Minute Fridays'," Rachel told me yesterday.

Therefore, in the spirit of obedience, I am pleased to bring you the following announcements:

1. I am pleased to announce that my head has not fallen off and been kicked into the mud by a horse.

Although, several times in the last few weeks, I have had to use super glue and duct tape to keep it in place.

2. I am pleased to announce that exactly 33% of each program is printed for my Studio Recital this Friday.

So much for getting it done early. I went to the print shop Tuesday to print off all the programs and returned with a lovely, thick stack of colored program exteriors (at a mere 4 times the cost of black-and-white). Apparently, the black-and-white printer (and, coincidentally, price) was out of commission. Not to worry. I shall return with my own black-and-white interiors to use the black-and-white printer, at the black-and-white price to copy onto the inside of my colorful programs. Who could really complain about bright & cheery covers, anyway?

3. I am pleased to announce that Rachel's dress did not come apart at the seams while in concert
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This naturally made her performance more enjoyable.

4. I am pleased to announce that I am leaving in 13 days for Paris!!!!!!!!!!

What more is there to say?

5. I am pleased to announce that Kaytra and I were not the ones who accidentally licked the gum wall in the wonderful, memory-making jaunt to Seattle.

I promise, the laughter in this picture is in no way related to the shrieks of the unfortunate girl who did lick it. That came later.

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The days are slipping by far too quickly. Everywhere I look, I am reminded of the brevity of life ~ how short a time we truly have here on earth to fulfill the mission our King has for us. When we received our first hive of bees the other day, I learned that worker honeybees only live 28 days. What a minute, seemingly meaningless existence! Yet, without the 28-day lives, there would be no honey. After weeks of watching the mother robin build, guard, and sit on her nest in the camellia bush outside our front window, the babies had flown away a mere 18 days after hatching. What a small sliver of time from helplessness to maturity!
 

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 "When you hit 40," our Pastor said, in a sermon I listened to the other day, "things start slowing down. You just can't do the things you used to be able to do." I was shocked ~ almost frightened at the thought. Two weeks ago, I turned 22. I am half-way to the place when my body will start trying to slow down, will begin to really die. What have I done, to this point, with the energy I have been granted, that will make a difference in the eternal life or death of those around me? Right now, right now, is the time I have been given to work. Am I?

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These are my "doings," and my "thinkings," of late. Perhaps, before I leave, there will be more on both. I certainly hope so. Until then (Rachel, don't read this part), there are always Five Minute Fridays. ;)

Think About It ~ Quotes for a Wednesday

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It's a "cold and dreary" sort of Wednesday. The sort of Wednesday where pensive clouds and water droplets breathe almost imperceptibly in the stillness. The sort of Wednesday where "gloomy" lends a beautiful, cosy sensibility to the afternoon. The sort of Wednesday that makes you happy to pull on an extra sweater, steep a mug of tea, and just ponder life. My ponderings today focus mostly around a series of quotes I've been reading this week...

 

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"We are Americans. We must not allow, nor shall we tolerate, the actions of criminals, no matter how heinous the crimes, to prompt politicians to enact laws that will infringe upon the liberties of responsible citizens who have broken no laws." - Tim Mueller

 

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"Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;" - I Peter 1:13

 

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"I was doing the wrong of never wanting or trying to be better. And now I see that I have been letting things go as they would for a long time. Whatever came into my head I did, and whatever didn't come into my head I didn't do." - Curdie from The Princess and Curdie

 

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"It is but a small thing for Me, your God, to help you. Consider what I have done already. What! Not help you? Why, I bought you with My blood. What! Not help you? I have died for you; and if I have done the greater, will I not do the less? Help you! It is the least thing I will ever do for you; I have done more and will do more....In helping you, I am giving you what I have bought for you already." - What? Not Help You!

 

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"Commit your way to the LORD,

Trust also in Him,

And He shall bring it to pass." - Psalm 37:5

 

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What are you pondering today?