Pick Up The Mirror

When I put down the magnifying lens and picked up the mirror, things started to change.

If we honestly examine and evaluate ourselves then we will not be judged and punished. 1 Corinthians 11:31

One of the biggest aha moments I have had since starting recovery is seeing how the Bible talks so much about recovery. It may use different terminology, but it is absolutely recovery principles. Not surprising to me, as I have since learned that the 12 Steps were based on the Bible and are outlined in order in the beatitudes. Now I see recovery everywhere in the Bible, like this verse here. It tells me that if I look at and evaluate myself honestly and judge myself, I will not have to be judged and punished. I got hung up on the word judge in this verse until I looked it up and saw that it means if I examine myself and change, I will not be condemned. This is talking about doing an honest moral inventory, changing behaviors, and making amends. That sounds a lot like recovery just in different language. But it’s the same principle.

Too many times I used to judge others instead of myself. I was looking at what others had done to me and not at what I had done to them. I would look at myself and try to see what I had done, but I would dismiss my actions and behaviors because I had good intentions. I meant well. So I would justify my actions instead of looking at how I could change them. Good intentions did not excuse my actions or dismiss my bad behavior. That sounds a whole lot like denial to me. I once heard someone say, Once I put down the magnifying lens and picked up the mirror, my life got a lot better.

In my Christian life I’ve heard many teachings about the idea of actions versus intentions. I would walk away thinking that when I see others’ actions, I should consider their intentions and offer them grace and understanding. I see now that I missed the underlying point. The axiom is: why do I judge others by their actions while I judge myself by my intentions? I would pose a new thought process: don’t let my intentions justify my actions. Instead, let me look at my actions strictly as my actions in spite of my intentions. When I keep the focus on me and look at how I can better myself in these situations, I can always see that I have a part. My part may be anywhere from 1% to 100%, but I definitely have a part. And that’s the part I have to deal with.

Reflection

Where can I look in the mirror instead of through the magnifying lens?