I think one of the greatest inventions in our human experience is the mirror. Before somebody came up with that piece of reflective material, people could not truly see themselves. They might catch their reflection in a pond or something, but once they had a mirror to look into, that gave them a much clearer picture of themselves.
And I imagine that, not long after people started using mirrors, they also started complaining about them. Because when a mirror does its work properly, it shows exactly what’s there. Nothing more and nothing less. And if you don’t like what the mirror shows you, that kind of honesty might be a problem. I know that sometimes I look in a mirror and wonder who that guy with the gray hair is. Maybe there’s some aspect of your appearance that you don’t want to think about either. So I can see why some people these days might decide to get rid of all the mirrors in their house. That way they don’t have to see the uncomfortable truth.
Consider that the spiritual practices we engage in are something like a mirror. Sacred texts, for example, have a way of pointing out the shortcomings of our human nature. They remind us that people often fail one another and fall short of the high standards that we might like to think we’re all capable of reaching. And while we may try to convince ourselves that we are far better than average and well above the norm, our times of spiritual reflection call us to recognize the truth. Like a mirror, our spiritual exercises force us to see our own failures and shortcomings clearly. We can’t ignore them or walk away from them. Instead, we are challenged to face them and deal with them.
Like a physical mirror, spiritual practice forces us to be honest about ourselves. But, unlike a physical mirror, those spiritual practices also help us to change for the better. As we look seriously at our life, we discover that growth is possible. We can become better people. We can move toward being the people that we were created to be. We can begin to experience life more fully. And along the way, that spiritual mirror will show the progress that we have made and the opportunities that continue to be all around us.
Long ago, somebody came up with the invention of a mirror. But well before that invention happened, there were spiritual mirrors that challenged people of every time and place to become more mature and better people. And even today we can turn to those spiritual mirrors that challenge us and let them lead us toward growth and a richer, fuller life.
I hope that gives you some food for spiritual thought.
Larry Lindstrom has been the Multifaith Campus Chaplain at Sinclair since 2016. He provides programs on different faith traditions and encourages students, faculty, and staff to explore their spiritual journey. Lindstrom also serves the college as the liaison for the office of LGBTQ+ Support. You can contact him at larry.lindstrom@sinclair.edu.