Mirrors

For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths. - Proverbs 5:21

We all learn how to use all the parts of the car before we get our drivers' licenses. Well, we should at least! All the switches, gauges, tools and more. One of the simplest, and yet most important, is the mirrors. Driver's side mirror, passenger side mirror, rear view mirror...they're all important. If you've ever changed lanes or merged into traffic, you know how essential your mirrors are. And yet we only see a limited view with those mirrors. They reflect a small piece of what's actually there. If we rely only on the mirrors, we'll end up crashing.

Think about it. Imagine if you black out everything but the mirrors in your car. How much would you see? Okay, maybe that's a bit extreme. Leave just the front windshield free of obstruction; after all, that's the direction you're going. Why focus on anything else? But it's not just about where we're going. Where we're going is connected to where we've been and where others are around us. Our history, experiences, relationships, commitments.

Look into a small mirroor. Is what you see the totality of you? Reflect on everything about you and your life that is not visible. But it's all visible to God. Eveything about you. Everything about your life. Everything about your journey.

Don't stop using your mirrors; they're ciritical for safe travel. But know...

1. the reflections are just a small piece of reality.
2. God has the whole view of realting, including you, in his view and on his heart.

When you travel, change lanes, merge into traffic...when you're driving the highway of life, check your mirrors often. But remember they only give you a glimpse of what's going on around you. Find comfort in the fact that God has no blind spots!

Bandages

The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him. Nahum 1:7

Have you been in the “first aid” aisle of a large convenient store lately? There are rows and rows of different types of bandages. Waterproof bandages, clear bandages, flexible bandages, small bandages…and bandages so large I can’t imagine not needing to go to the hospital instead!

The amount of bandages to choose from can easily become overwhelming. But maybe we can learn something from the large selection. Grab a couple bandages from your cabinet.

Think about how someone has cared for you. Be specific. Did someone give you a hug when you most needed it? Brought you food when you were not feeling well? Picked up a child when you were running late? Write on one of your bandages to signify how someone cared for you…or maybe just write that person’s name on the bandage.

Now consider how you have cared for someone else. Did you send a note of encouragement? Hold someone’s hand in the waiting room of a hospital? Help with a project without being asked? Write on your second bandage to signify how you have cared for someone else.

Care looks very different across situations and people. There is no cookie cutter care…no one size, shape or color of bandage that works for every wound. We must meet people where they are and allow others to meet us where we are.

Take time today to thank someone who has cared for you. You can even place your bandage in a note card along with some words of gratitude. And place the other bandage in a prominent place to remind yourself of the importance of caring for one another, for “No one ever hated his own body but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church, for we are members of his body” (Ephesians 5:29-30).

Pray…and place your trust in God, who knows what we need when we personally need care as well as when we need to care for someone else.