MIRROR, MIRROR BEFORE MY FACE,
HELP ME, HELP ME FIND A TRACE
OF PEACE, OF LOVE, OF GENTLE GRACE.
SHOW ME, MIRROR, AS I PEER INTO YOUR SILVER-COATED SPHERE.
ARE THERE LINES OF LEARNED LOVE, OF GENTLE KINDNESS FROM ABOVE?
OR IS THERE SIMPLY AGED SHAME, LINED WITH OPPORTUNITY TO BLAME
OTHERS FOR MY POCKS AND SCARS,
SMEARED WITH MAKEUP TO DISGUISE
THE FRUITLESS LIFE OF MY DEMISE?
How often I look in the mirror of my life and see images of distorted goodness. Thoughts run rampant as I take the magnifying glass to the motives of my mind, the intentions of my heart. I look through reading glasses framed by tinted lenses, colored to suit my explanation of who I am, what I've done, and why I've done it. My mind races in reverse, pictures flood my memory screen. And I'm left thinking...could I have done that better? Could I have left out that phrase? Could I have said something differently? Should I have taken a different path, focused more on another?
As I peer into the mirror of my present, I am reminded that all I have is this moment. Yesterday is gone. And the reflection I see when I look into that mirror is soon forgotten. I must focus on the necessity of the moment at hand. I must look forward to what this moment, this word, this thought will render for this blink in time. I must realize that this moment is the most important that I have. It is the foundation I build tomorrow upon. And should I smear today's coldcream over yesterday's makeup, then all it will do is create a breeding ground of grime that bears infection.
So I wash yesterday from memory. I cleanse my face and start anew. Stimulated by the cold fresh water of God's Word that closes the pores, I seal them from invading grit. I coat my skin with soothing moisturizer and pray a new prayer of praise and adoration. I add embellishments of foundation, blush, liners and concealers. And protect my skin with the armor of my salvation, faith and truth. They accent the positives of my image and give the world a view beyond my looking glass. And maybe, just maybe, they'll see my Lord through the Spirit of His goodness, kindness, gentleness, peace, and love. selahV [copyrighted, SelahV Today, 2007]
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