Objects in Mirror are Closer than they Appear
Who hasn’t noticed those words? If you’ve ever sat in the passenger side of a vehicle, you’ve probably seen those little words which are actually a safety warning and are required to be engraved on the passenger side mirror of all motor vehicles in the U.S. Why? Well to make a very long explanation, that has everything to do with physics short, it relates to the way light bounces off of a flat surface versus a convex surface, and the way the side mirrors are positioned to compensate for angle and distance in relation to the driver’s eye. This compensation although offering a wider viewing angle sacrifices accuracy, making the image thats being reflected appear further than what it really is.
So what does that all mean? Basically, that when sitting on the drivers side everything you see behind you through the passenger side mirror is closer than what you think.
I can appreciate this warning, as it helps to decrease misperceptions of the space between me and what lies behind me. And on many occasions having been able to gauge the distance has kept me from major collisions!
Just yesterday morning, there was a terrible car wreck that left pieces scattered all across the 4 lane wide street. I couldn’t help but wonder what had happened, and if one of the cars had not seen the other coming and maybe miscalculated the distance. This happens more often than we know and not only on the street or highway but in our lives as well.
Though we don’t have a side rearview mirror per say, just like our cars, the objects of our past are closer than they appear. Whether it be a person, habit, memory, or situation it is necessary that we measure the distance we keep in order to avoid an accident. Many times as we look back we let our guard down, and our perception of how close the past is to us becomes distorted, and we suddenly become wrapped up again in past drama. Though we may have moved on from who or what we once were we must keep in mind that if the proper distance isn’t kept, we can easily merge into what once was without even noticing that its happening. The warning sign is there for a reason not to make us insecure and fear being haunted our whole lives but rather for motivational purpose; to keep us moving forward at all times so that we don’t allow the gap between us and our past to close in and quietly become us.
Praying you avoid any and all collisions with your past this week and that you have the strength to keep the distance from all those things you left behind at one point. If they didn’t serve you then, they will not serve you now!
Be Blessed!
Out of Bounds
Win! Win! Win! Thats the attitude all the time, anytime, every time! Okay…I admit I can get carried away at times. Like the time I cried in Monopoly during a “friendly” family game because I wasn’t winning. (please note that I use that “friendly” term very loosely as we all know there are no friends during competition) Not because Im a sore looser but because I take winning very serious. Even while others see a casual game of whatever it is we’re playing as “fun” I cant help but feel a deep NEED to win. Almost as if my reputation depended on it. I guess in part it does, as my performance has to backup all the trash talk I do before hand…..yes, yes, I know its hard to believe, but I can in fact dish out my fair share of smack talk, infuriating my opponent, making the win all the more crucial!
So just last week we had a “friendly” < ahem….clear hers throat > game of volleyball at work. This was our first ever staff-volleyball game and of course my team had to win. Amateurs at best, we were having a good time laughing, making fun of each other, and celebrating when we managed to keep the ball going back and forth for more than one round. One point for that team, one point for this team…but I have to admit I was getting a bit tense when I saw they were ahead. When all of a sudden the ball was thrown in my direction and though I leaped to hit it, I missed and then I heard the call from my team …”Out of bounds”! It was a bit hard for the others to get a clear view of the ball, as I happened to be in the way so I went with the call…Out of Bounds. Truth be told, I saw the play perfectly and the ball was inside the court. Okay, okay, don’t judge me! Remember, I told you I take winning very serious and this was no exception even if it meant making a false call.
But before you stop reading and dismiss me as a cheater, bear with me, Im going somewhere.
Out of Bounds: beyond any established boundaries or prescribed limits; prohibited; forbidden.
Though as it pertains to this game, the play was a good one, and only I knew where the ball actually landed, I cant help but compare this to the times in life where I have been living Out of Bounds and have tried to give others the impression that I have been inside the court so to speak. Does anybody hear me? You know, those times where we are clearly out of our limits, out of line, in violation, cruel, improper, inappropriate, unwarranted, uncalled for. Not exactly the things we like to admit to, but I know Im not the only one.
The times where I have served the ball of life and though clearly past the limits, I have wanted others to play my game. Yet, just like during the staff volleyball game, others may not have a clear view of where I’m at, but the one who matters most …me…will always know if my play is a valid one or not making the difference between the extent to which I can enjoy the win or not.
My team did not win the game that day. The opposing team won 3 out of 4 games. Obviously, the call on that play didn’t make a real difference in the large scope of things nor did I feel any sort of remorse for having made a false call to our advantage. In fact, if we would have won, I wouldn’t have given that play another thought and I would have savored the win as if it was a snow cone on a hot summer day…but all things in perspective, it was just a game people!!!
Would a win taste as sweet if it was off the court, in real life, and Out of Bounds on my part?…….my answer is No, what about you?
Scars of Gold
Kintsukuroi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by filling it with gold has been around for centuries. There are varying tales that attempt to trace back the origin of this process but all of the tales agree on one thing; it began with an emperor.
This art form still exists today but is not only reserved for the Japanese culture. Most of us know it by a different name; Restoration.
Is there hope after being broken? That is the question we ask ourselves and in most instances the answer we hear is “no”. Stories of defeat, despair, and resignation are constantly heard in our society and are accepted as normal. In fact one who rises out of failure is many times doubted, questioned, and scrutinized.
We try to hide our scars because they tell the stories of our lives and in many instances it is not an area we want to revisit. We begin to think if we hide them long enough that our very real past might somehow begin to fade away.
If this pagan emperor was able to see beauty in brokenness how could we be blind to it? What if there was a way to find beauty in the scars of life?
In God’s Hands, our scars are not meant to fade away but rather to be displayed in such a way that no matter how ugly and deep the scar is, what is illuminated is the restoration.
The Japanese belief states that a piece is more beautiful for having been broken. Thus, when a vase is broken, if it is filled with the originating material, the cracks would blend in and be virtually invisible. For this reason, in order for the brokenness to be appreciated it is highlighted. In the case of this art form, it is filled with gold.
God does the same thing. In restoration He brings us back to our original blueprint but does so in an enhanced manner. He doesn’t just piece us back together, heal our wounds and not allow any scaring so that we would fit back in with everyone else. On the contrary, in this restoration He magnifies those same scars so that we would stand out for the work He has done in us by filling us with His grace.
By grace we are carefully pieced back together and only through grace can the scars of our life appear beautiful! His grace overshadows all trauma, insignificance, disadvantage, and inadequacy brought upon by brokenness and replaces it with Value, Beauty, and Effectiveness.
In a way that only He can, He turns what was once a cause of disgrace into a testimony.
This is where imperfection meets perfection.
Consider the exchange that takes place; brokenness for wholeness.
His grace filling us, far supersedes anything we may have counted as a loss.
Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ – Philippians 3:8
True risk then comes from allowing others to see us as we really are. Fragmented individuals rescued by the Hand of God. No longer hiding our scars but placing them on display for the world to see and attesting to His mighty works.
Let’s take a look at what is deposited in us during this great exchange.
Value: One of the things that determine the value of an item is its history. Factors such as whom the item belonged to, and where it has been, all play a part. The demand for the item also helps to decide its worth.
The value that God places on us is the same. The bible tells us time and time again that we were purchased at a high price. The cost was Jesus! Thus, we belong to Him. No matter how misty our past has been, after restoration, we are no longer defined by brokenness or failures. Instead we are seen as overcomers. Where we have been no longer matters, but rather where we are going. Everyone yearns for true restoration, but apart from God, restoration is limited.
You were bought with a price purchased with preciousness and paid for by Christ; then do not yield yourselves to become in your own estimation slaves to men but consider yourselves slaves to Christ. 1 Corinthians 7:23
Beauty: Just like in the art of Kintsukuroi a vase is more beautiful for having been broken, so are we in the eyes of the Lord. Times of failure can leave us feeling dull and as if we have lost our luster, but it is actually the overcoming of these same trials that makes us shine brightest.
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes…Isaiah 61:3
Effectiveness: Testimonies are born out of trials, failures, disappointments, or struggles. Our restoration is only complete when we share with others what has been done for us. This is our assignment; to not allow the enemy to silence our praise. The essence of an effective testimony is that one which reveals Christ’s grace.
And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death Revelation 12:11
Only God can take something, accentuate its flaws, and make it more beautiful than it was at the beginning.
But even more beautiful than the restored piece, are the Hands of the one that restored it!
2 Corinthians 12:9 says it like this …“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness”…
Thank you Lord for Scars of Gold!
Coming Up for Air
I’ve never been a strong swimmer. As a matter of fact, I tend to stay in the shallow end of the beach, pool, or whatever body of water I may be in. Those non-swimmers out there may know exactly what I mean; its the safe end. The place where your feet touch the ground, where you still have control of your body, and most important of all, where you can breathe without difficulty as your head is above water.
I don’t enjoy the feeling of being fully immersed in the water as holding my breath is not something I’ve ever been good at. Its funny though, lately it seems that underwater is where I have been; at least metaphorically speaking.
Im not sure that one thing is to blame. Its more like a combination of many different things that have stirred up feelings of insecurity, anger, uncertainties, inability to cope, and different sleeping patterns which have all contributed to this drowning feeling I have recently been experiencing. This wouldn’t be the first time I have felt like this. It seems that life in the recent years can best be described as rolling hills. There have been high moments, low moments and then there have been the moments in between. Yet, the one thing that makes today different then times past is my ability to recognize that wherever I’m at, G-d is totally and completely aware. And not only is He aware, but He is accepting of me, and continues to love me unconditionally in spite of the moment I may be in. Where on previous occasions, my initial response has been to leave G-d out of the picture and hide from Him (because of course He has no clue whats going on), this time I search for Him, include Him, and trust that in spite of how blurred things around me may appear or how confused a state I may be in, He’s got my back.
He knows the limit of my strength, the threshold of my mental capacity, and above all else, He understands me even in those moments when I don’t understand myself!
Im not sure how much longer I will continue to feel constricted in my breathing capacity, but until that feeling is alleviated and I don’t have the sense of being underwater anymore, I will continue to come up for small gasps of air by doing the small things that provide me relief;
- eating vanilla ice cream with rainbow sprinkles
- taking a midday walk and listening to the birds sing
- singing loudly at work in spite of my non singing voice
- taking baths with my bath bombs from lush
- escaping the crowd to chat with G-d and getting real with Him
- buying whatever I want to buy and crying whenever I want to cry
And during those moments, I will breathe deeply, slowly and I will wait on Him.
The Window to the Soul
Everything about the human body is exceptional! The way any given system functions and reflects upon another is a reminder that every part of our body is interrelated. From muscles to bones to every organ and nerve, it is all connected.
I first learned about this connection about 14 years ago, one day as I accompanied my mother to a naturopathic doctor who diagnosed her patients by examining their eyes. Although I was not there for a visit myself, once the Dr. finished examining my mom she offered to take a look at my eyes and since I was already there I figured there was nothing to lose.
“Like a drug addict” is what I recall her saying. “Your eyes resemble those of a drug addict, restless, tired, irritated, stressed”. Wow, I thought to myself, I mean I was tired but never believed it would show in my eyes; at least not to this extent. As much as I didn’t want to take ownership of the “drug addict” comparison, she was right. It had been about 3 months of no sleep or interrupted sleep patterns (depending on how bad the night was) that were reflecting in my eyes. Of course the Dr. didn’t know I had just given birth 3 months prior. But after the drug addict comment I thought it was only appropriate to clear up my name and let her in on the reason behind my lack of sleep; a pretty little thing named Sky.
They call them the window to the soul. I assume it is because if you look close enough you can see the most intimate part of someone; even those things they’d rather not share. Although lack of sleep is certainly one, I speak of even more intimate details such as character, moral condition, and disposition. Though many try to cover the true nature of who they are and what they believe, these things can never truly be hidden.
Of course the Dr. couldn’t tell of my exhaustion at plain view. It was only when she used her eye examination equipment that the stress that was inside was revealed. Aside from this device it all appeared normal.
Have you ever had this same experience? Perhaps not at a Dr’s office but in everyday situations such as with someone at work, a friend, or even a neighbor? Recently, I met someone who reminded me that the truth is right below the surface and that if you look long and or deep enough it will be revealed to you. From the moment I met her I could sense that something wasn’t right…or at least not the way she was presenting it to be. After sitting with her less than 3o minutes I began to understand why I felt the way I did. She slowly began to expose herself. What was within her began to pour out from her mouth. I didn’t have to probe, all I did was listen.
Because sometimes listening is all it takes. The truth is never far behind.
Not too long ago I ran into a quote I immediately loved that states “Her Intuition was her Favorite Superpower”. For many, Intuition is that feeling of just knowing, for me its a piece of examination equipment just like the Dr. I mentioned earlier used. Its that Still Small Voice, the One that never fails and warns us of trouble up ahead. Its the Holy Spirit, guiding us and exposing truth long before our natural senses can ever realize something is wrong. If only we just acknowledged this Voice every time it spoke to us!
Blemish or Beauty Mark
How do you go from G-d to Transgression? To all my Non-Christian friends who believe going to church makes you PERFECT, and to all my church going folks who PRETEND this is true….Check out my spoken word video and hear some TRUTH!
Finding Your Way Back
Sometimes you have to cut things/relationships/or habits off in order to find your way back! Make sure to catch my video blog on “Everything’s Coming Up Rosie” to find out if you’re where you’re supposed to be!