I went out to take care of a little chore today. My daughter managed to clear most of the driveway before she headed off to interact with small humans (aka: the 5 and under set). When I learned I was not driving to a meeting out-of-town, I texted her so she wouldn’t be worried about it. She texted back that she wondered if I could tackle a small section of the drive she couldn’t attend to with her car parked in the drive. So, there I was, wielding a shovel.
Now, I can do this, although my back doesn’t think much of the exercise these days. I really need to work on my core! But that wasn’t what prompted me to write this. As I came in after not more than 15 minutes work, my glasses fogged up, as they will do when going from the cold to the warm. And a phrase immediately came to mind:
For now we see through a glass, darkly, but then face to face
This is a part of a passage which I became quite familiar with in my college years. It’s from the King James version of the Bible and the entire part goes:
For now we see through a glass, darkly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then shall I know even as also I am known.
1 Corinthians 13:12
While the more modern interpretations of this passage talk about dim reflections, etc., I’ve always appreciated this particular version of this text. And it’s apt when taking off steamed over glasses and realizing that, because my eyes had long since adjusted to the glasses this morning, everything is a bit obscured and fuzzy. Anyone with glasses likely knows what I mean.
I often think of these moments, when stray verses pop into my head, as moments when a “higher power” is trying to talk to me. To remind me that sometimes, we get immersed in an issue, be it a political discussion, a book we’re reading where not everyone is comfortable with the message, or some other debate, and we “can’t see the forest for the trees” as the saying goes. In other words, we get too wrapped up in things and find it difficult, if not impossible, to see the issue from the other side.
But, as the glasses cleared, warmed up, and I could put them back on my nose and see properly (yeah, no running into things!), I realized that sometimes this is what happens when we are in the middle of a controversy or debate or discussion. Or, when we are justifiably frustrated with something that’s happening in another part of the country and we feel helpless. Sometimes, like with our glasses being dark or cloudy, we need to step back, let things clear, and then come back to it with fresh eyes or a fresh perspective.
Things do have a solution. But that solution is sometimes not easy, and certainly not something which can happen with a snap of the fingers or a wiggle of the nose. (Bewitched! Anyone?) It does require that we at least attempt to see things from the other perspective. (or, in some instances, multiple perspectives.) It requires that we try to take ourselves out of the equation and ask what is right for the whole, not just the one.
May we all have these moments when a “higher power” brings perspective, and sometimes even clear vision, into our lives. May it help to lead us to an answer that suits all. Jesus did it, and sacrificed much to give us his message. Let’s not let his sacrifice have been in vain. Let us take strength and courage from his example and move forward with clearer vision.
Have a Blessed Day.