A few weeks ago, I had my eighth graders watch
a short interview of author Kurt Vonnegut, a writer of stories
somewhat critical of our technology-crazed world. In that interview,
he said two very important things:
- We´re losing our sense of the "local."
- Children don´t have any mirrors.
About #1, Vonnegut said he grew up in Indianapolis, a
relatively large city even then, and as a child he knew
many gifted people: the conductor of the symphony, the
first clarinet player, the architect of his high school
and the sculptor of many statues in the city.
About #2, He inferred that in knowing these people, he
had mirrors. He could look at them and see himself--see
his own potential, believe in his own potential, seek his
own potential and succeed because his measuring sticks--his
mirrors--were real live people.
Kids, or adults for that matter, who have no mirrors,
are in danger of becoming "dull"--not mean or
scary or excessively violent--just "dull". They
have no clear way to see themselves; they have so few wonderful
exchanges with "real" people or with "real"
James 1:23--"Anyone who listens to the word but does
not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face
in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and
immediately forgets what he looks like."
It is possible--in fact it is likely--that "we" as
spiritual people have forgotten what we look like. We have
walked away from our mirrors and forgotten. And so, we
too, have become dull.
It is also possible for us to remedy this situation. It
is possible for us to become sharp if we take these two
practical steps.
James mentions the first in Chpt. 1, vs. 25. "But
the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives
freedom and continues to do this, not forgetting what he
has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he
does."
The catch is this--that you are not just reading, not
just hearing, not just discussing...... You are doing it.
Vs. 22--"Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive
yourselves. Do what it says."
The second practical step is mentioned by the writer of
Hebrews in Chapter 12:2.
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector
of our faith who for the joy set before him endured the
cross......."
Jesus is real, and we can fix our eyes on Him. He isn´t
an image--he isn´t in our imaginations--he is no creation
of our thoughts. He is as real as the conductor, the architect
and the sculptor. He is as local as the mayor or the science
teacher, the beautician or the wheat farmer. He is there
for us--flesh and blood Jesus, a perfect mirror.
Fix your eyes on Jesus. Read his word and DO IT--two
practical steps that we can do and if we do them:
We´ll be sharp--We´ll be free--We´ll
be real.
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Mirrors