So, in case you haven’t heard, I’m currently on month nine of my eleven-month mission trip called the World Race. I’ve been to six different countries in Asia, and am now finishing up my three countries in Africa before I head to the last two months in Europe. As I was sitting on my bed thinking this morning about how much I’ve been changed, I started to think about how different we all physically look here versus how we look when we’re in America. Well, I’d assume I look a lot different. I actually am not quite sure how different though. I know, it sounds strange, but something I’ve gone months without is a mirror.
Over the full nine months that I’ve been overseas, only three months had mirrors that we could use every day. Of all the ministry sites I’ve stayed at, only three bathrooms had mirrors in them. I can’t even imagine living in America without a mirror. And that just made me realize how self-conscious and image-focused America really is. While on the race, I really haven’t cared what I looked like most of the time, and when a mirror was available, I would usually opt not to use it.
We are much too focused on ourselves in America. I remember my junior year in high school I didn’t want to even wear the same outfit twice because I thought everyone would notice. I’m sure no one did, mostly because they were all too focused on themselves. I wish this were something we left in high school, but being too focused on self is something that I carried into college, and most people lug into the rest of their lives.
Now, I’m not saying to stop looking in a mirror, but I just want you to realize how much time you spend on your image. The time you stand in front of the mirror getting ready for the day, or adjusting a piece of hair during the lunch break.
Our American, Hollywood-obsessed, “me” culture teaches us that this is how we’re supposed to be. How many times have you heard the saying, “Look out for number one”? We are so preoccupied with ourselves. I’m not just talking about mirrors now. I want to apply this to a deeper level.
We focus on our needs and wants, but don’t see a problem overlooking someone less fortunate. I can’t even count the times that I’ve passed by a beggar on the streets of West Palm Beach and just blown them off thinking they only want money for drugs or alcohol. Jesus tells us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Everyone is our neighbor. Even if they are on the other side of the world. Why are we so focused on ourselves and our wants when others don’t even have enough to cover their needs?
So, the mirror we really need is the one that shows us the state of our hearts. Who needs mirrors that encourage us to keep focusing on ourselves? I want to promote the idea of giving our image to God and trusting that everything else is going to fall into place. That’s how he designed it to be, isn’t it?
