Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.
Proverbs 15:30 NIV
The story goes that a long time ago, there was a place known as the house of the thousand mirrors in a distant village. A happy little doggie knew about this place and decided to go there. When he got there, he happily jumped up the steps to the entrance of the house. He looked through the front door with his little ears raised and wagging his tail as quickly as he could. To his surprise, he met a thousand other happy little puppies, all wagging their tails. A huge smile spread on his face and was met by a thousand huge smiles. When he left the house he thought, ′′What a wonderful place! I will come back many times."
In this same village, another little puppy, who wasn't as happy as the first, also decided to visit the house of mirrors. He climbed up the steps and looked through the door. When he saw a thousand hostile dogs, he growled, bared his teeth, and was horrified to see a thousand dogs growling and baring their teeth to him. When he left that house he thought, ′′What a horrible place! I will never come back here again." The story concludes by saying: all the faces in the world are mirrors.[1]
Most of the time, those around us reflect what they see in us. We have all experienced how we are influenced by what we see. We realize that the climate in our families is influenced by our mood when we come home and the messages our faces send. We have had hard days that have been lightened by a kind smile. And we have visited churches where our welcome has made the difference between staying or never coming back.
Of course, it is easier for us to see the indisposition of others than to realize our own mood. We see the face of the one in front of us and not our own. We don't carry a mirror with us throughout the day. But if we pay attention, we will see the reflection in those around us. What ′′words′′ do we say through our facial expressions? What do our eyes express?
′′The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light.”[2] Inevitably we are what we contemplate. If our eyes lay on the bitter side of life, we will reflect darkness. And this darkness can be so deep that we mistakenly think that our family is very complicated, that our colleagues are very problematic, that our neighborhood is unbearable, that our friends are ungrateful, that the congregation we belong to is flawed and that our life sucks. Everything around us will be darkness!
“When a man turns away from human imperfections and beholds Jesus, a divine transformation takes place in his character. He fixes his eye upon Christ as on a mirror which reflects the glory of God, and by beholding he becomes changed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”[3]
When Moses came down from the mountain after spending time in the presence of God, a veil was placed on his face because a glow, a divine reflection emanated from his face. If our focus is on Christ, if we spend time in His presence, we will realize that His grace, kindness, patience, and unselfishness will be reflected in us quite naturally. As Solomon says: ′′Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones."[4]
Climb up the steps of life with cheer, joy, and strength in Christ Jesus. Look at the world around you with genuine interest and commitment. Enjoy the multiple reflexes of blessings the Creator showers on your life. Be thankful for those around you and what you have. And by the way... one last note: if life growls at you, consider if it might just be a reflection.
https://www.revistaadventista.pt/janeiro-2022/
[1] Anonymous author
[2] Matthew 6:22 NIV
[3] TMK 94,2
[4] Proverbs 15:30 NIV