Important Information.

STOP PRESS: The third book in my series - "Defending the Faith" - is now available, as a paperback, at
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For those who are bi-lingual, I now have a second blog, in the French language, that publishes twice-monthly. Go to: https://crazyrevfr.blogspot.com/

7 Mar 2021

Lessons from the "House of Mirrors"!

I don't honestly know if such places still exist. I certainly haven't seen one for many, many years. However, when I made a quick search for one, I did discover that they are based on "The Galerie des Glaces" (Hall of Mirrors) - perhaps the most famous room in the château of Versailles. It took the place of the rooftop terrace overlooking the gardens which formerly connected the apartments of the king and queen. The construction of the room began in 1678 and finished in 1684. The gallery is more than 70 metres (230 ft) long, and it is lined with 17 wide arcaded mirrors, designed to match and reflect the windows opposite facing the gardens. (from Wikipedia).

Of course, the Hall of Mirrors of which I am thinking is the one in which multiple mirrors combine to make a kind of maze, through which visitors must pass. The mirrors, themselves, are of different shapes, and planes, and cause one to see oneself in all kinds of shapes and sizes.

I have read of a Moorish palace with a beautiful, grotto-like, entrance which is, apparently, quite intriguing. Notices at the entrance announce the wonders and beauties that may be seen inside. However, upon entering, the visitor discovers that the interior is simply a mass of strange mirrors! Regardless of which way he turns, he sees himself from a different angle. 

Glancing ahead, the visitor appears to be tall and thin; looking to the right, he encounters a curved mirror that makes him appear to be broader than he really is. Different mirrors provide differing reflections, deceptively luring him onwards, and bringing him face-to-face with strange reflections of himself - some flattering; others much less so! 

Of course, some people seem to spend their whole lives in this way! No matter in which direction they turn, they see nothing but 'self', until sometimes the view becomes exaggerated, and completely unrealistic. A little success, and they become so gratified that, in their own twisted imaginations, they grow to huge proportions! They need to take some heed to the words of Rabbie Burns, the Scots Bard: "O wad some pow'r the giftie gie us, tae see oorsels as ithers see us"! (To a louse).

God's written Word warns us to guard against pride in self. So Paul writes to the early disciples of Jesus in Rome: "Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us." (Rom 12:3; The Living Bible)

"Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves," Don't take yourself too seriously, or nourish your ego on every compliment you receive. If you do, the distorted mirrors of pride will often make you appear taller than you really are. However, a bloated opinion of yourself is both unhealthy, and unspiritual, and may even prove to be embarrassing! Jesus said: "When you are invited by any one to a marriage feast, do not sit down in a place of honour , lest a more eminent man than you be invited by him; and he who invited you both will come and say to you, 'Give place to this man,' and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, 'Friend, go up higher'; then you will be honoured in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For every one who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luke 14:8-11).

May we tend, more, to the attitude of John the Baptiser who said, with regard to the Lord Jesus: "He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:30).

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