Mirrors: Reflections of Reality?

When I look in the mirror I don't usually like what I see. Usually I notice the fact that I haven't done my hair, or the five pounds I recently put on, or that my skin is not perfect. And usually I think that I am just being "objective". But, is my "objective" opinion or view of myself actually negatively skewed?

There is a line in "Believe" by Cherie Call that I have thought about a lot over the past few years:

Sometimes you see what Jesus sees
When you look in the mirror

What is it that Jesus sees in me? Jesus likely sees me as a whole person, and in light of what I can and am becoming. He is not fixated on my blemishes and imperfections. If he does gently remind me of something I need to work on, it is not to highlight the fact that I am imperfect but rather to aid me in becoming better - to help me move forward.

All this makes me think of the woman who is taken in adultery and brought before Jesus (see John 8). The scribes and Pharisees ask if they should stone the woman - which is the punishment prescribed by law. After a few moments, Jesus responds: "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her" (John 8:7). Slowly, these men walk away realizing that they too are not perfect.

The story continues: "When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more" (John 8:10-11).

This strikes me as a moment when someone figuratively saw herself in the mirror as Jesus saw her. Someone who was not perfect. Someone who could "go, and sin no more". Someone worth believing in.

I also had a moment like this. I was asked to play the flute in Church for Easter Sunday. I am NOT an accomplished flute player. I get very nervous playing in front of people. I have had some painful experiences in the past where I did not play well. However, I agreed to play. As I was preparing, I told myself that the goal was not to be perfect, or play amazingly. The goal was to invite the influence of the Holy Ghost and to touch the hearts of at least some of the people who heard the music.

Despite carefully prepping myself, I still sat down feeling poorly about the way I played. I was painfully aware of, and fixated on the less than perfect parts of the song. As in the past, when someone paid me a compliment, I was very tempted to (a) deflect or decline the compliment and/or (b) to assure myself they are just being nice or don't know what they are talking about (I know, I shouldn't admit these things about myself!).

When I sat down for the rest of the meeting, I found an index card I had written some thoughts on months ago: God doesn't want us to be ashamed because we are not perfect, not enough like His Son, Jesus Christ. Rather, He wants us to recognize our potential and constantly move closer to that potential.

And that made me think: Do I have to be perfect, or do something perfectly in order to touch others or invite the Holy Ghost?

The answer is no. We are not perfect beings. We can look at ourselves as a whole, and in light of what we are striving to become and not just what we are at this exact moment. Where we are headed is more important that where we have been and perhaps more important than where we are right now. I know I have a long way to go, and I will still have a hard time with mirrors. But, I am making progress. I can from time to time get a glimpse of how Jesus sees me and use that both as comfort and a motivating force onward and upward.