Who do you see when you look in the mirror?
Who do you see when you look at someone else?
The image you see will depend on the quality of the lens you are using.
Unless it is a high-quality lens, a very expensive lens, the view will likely be distorted in one-way or another and not give you a clear or accurate image.
That distorted image will then affect your response to yourself or the other person based on faulty information.
Our lens can be flawed from multiple sources. Sometimes the marring comes from bias or prejudice we were taught or caught before we ever knew what those words meant.
Sometimes the lens is scratched from wounds we received from abuse, abandonment, or neglect. Sometimes things that have been said to us or said about us that were hurtful and harmful cloud the lens. Too often, we do not see the imperfections in the lens just as many who wear glasses seem oblivious to the dust, fingerprints, and smudges on their glasses.
There is a great deal of evidence that suggests when we fail to see ourselves accurately, we cannot really see anyone else accurately because we project onto them our own distortions. That makes it hard to love, accept, trust, or enjoy anyone else because we secretly have difficulty loving, accepting, trusting, or enjoying ourselves.
We simply cannot give what we do not own.
Sadly, the distortion doesn’t stop there. It tends to be projected on God as well so that we may not see the truth of who He is, how He loves, and how He desires relationship with us. It can cause us to distrust Him, keep a distance from Him, see Him as angry, and misperceive whatever we read or hear about Him.
Where do we get a high-quality lens to see accurately?
I know of only one source that can supply what we need. It comes from looking at ourselves and others through what we read and see in the Word. That informs us of grace-filled truth and truth is what produces the clearest lens and the most accurate image. The result is that I can look at you and myself through rose-colored glasses.
Most people would say that sounds like a faulty lens where things are depicted in ways that do not fit at all with reality.
Rose-colored glasses are something we are chided about using because the phrase indicates we are not looking at things the way they truly are. Is that really the answer?
The rose-colored glasses we all need are the most expensive lenses ever created and the only ones that can give us perfect images. We could not afford them. Only God could purchase them for us.
These are lenses stained with the blood of the One who sees us as we truly are and yet loves and accepts us. God looks at us through the blood of the cross, the blood that cost Him more than anything else, the perfect sacrifice of love and forgiveness.
When we use these lenses, we can see others and ourselves through loving forgiveness even as He sees us. That doesn’t distort reality. It corrects what only He can accomplish.
Consider the lyrics of this wonderful song by Wayne Watson:
Rose Coloured Glasses
Heavenly Father–Have You got a moment
There’s something I don’t understand
How from Your window–Watchin’ Your children
You hold back the wrath of Your hand
Does Your window pane–Bear a lasting stain
That a sinful rain can’t wash away
His gaze always passes thru rose coloured glasses
Everytime He looks on my heart
And thru love’s forgiveness
Thru purity’s fire
I am my God’s desire
Heavenly Father–Just one more question
I don’t mean to take so much time
But tell me–How much did it hurt You
To give from Your garden
The most lovely rose from Your vine
When the petals fell–When the colours ran
Was it then and there You first saw me holy
His gaze always passes thru rose coloured glasses
Everytime He looks on my heart
And thru love’s forgiveness
Thru purity’s fire
I am my God’s desire
Thanks so much for linking up with me at my #UnlimitedMonthlyLinkParty 9, open February 1 to 26. My themed party 11 for Handcrafted Jewelry is open February 15 to 25 if you have any appropriate posts.
Wow, Pam! What an amazing post and message. And once again, I am reading this at a moment when it is more pertinent to me than any other moment. I recently made a new friend who has a somewhat unsavory history that most would judge and turn away from any possibility of contact let alone an actual friendship. I approached the new friendship wearing my rose colored glasses and refrained from all judgment as this person shared their story with me. And as I accepted it all for what it was, a pretty fabulous friendship is growing out of it. But all along, I kept telling myself that there is a lesson here somewhere that is fully intended for me. I am still not sure what that lesson is, but I know I am going to learn it in a really wonderful way. Thank you for sharing this!
Shelbee
http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com
It’s quite a blessing for me when something I wrote happens to be “right on time” for someone who is reading it days or weeks later. My experience tells me that when someone has a messy life, listening without judgment does more to encourage them to make better choices than judgment. The caveat is that we must be healthy enough to do that and model that while not getting ensnared in their choices ourselves.🍆
Beautifully written. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Thank you for this great post. I really wish people would look at our special needs kids with these rose colored glasses. Unfortunately there are still a lot of true acceptance to be taught. You would not believe the comments and looks my autistic son has received. And unfortunately it happens to other special needs families a lot too. If people would look at him with rose colored glasses they would get to see the amazing person hiding under the surface.
You’re so welcome. I can appreciate so much of what you are saying. I grew up with a brother who had special needs although they didn’t call it that then. I also taught a special education group of students for 15 years. Each of them has a special spark and gift. We all need to open our eyes to see it. ♥️
Indeed. If only people took the time to see the person under the surface, we would all be better off.
Pam, what a powerful message you shared today. I think this is so true: “There is a great deal of evidence that suggests when we fail to see ourselves accurately, we cannot really see anyone else accurately because we project onto them our own distortions.” And I love the thought of the rose colored glasses.
Thanks so much, Deb!♥️
Thank you for linking up for Life This Week #174. Next week’s optional prompt is 6/51 Interesting 10.2.2020. Hope to see you again there too. Denyse.
Jeff went to the eye doctor today so this is an interesting post for me to read tonight. 🙂 They tried to get him to buy all these special features for his lenses, but he just wanted the simplest ones. May we ever see each other through the lenses of Christ’s love for us.
Interesting timing on all this! You are so right….may we ever see each other through those lenses of Christ!♥️
We do need to put on the lens of God’s word to see others and ourselves correctly. I find that looking through God’s lenses also helps me re-see what I thought was true in my past, was not really true. May we see life more through His lenses.
I so agree about how such lenses need to be used in looking at the past. Great point, Theresa💕