Mirrors

We’re all mirrors. A mirror reflects whatever is right in front of it. Look around at all your hobbies and interests, the people and things you’ve surrounded yourself with. That’s you. Those things make up who you are. “Be yourself” sounds a lot different when we realize that who we are, our identities, is made up of imitations and mirrors. To be yourself is to be unoriginal, a reflection of things that inspire you.

But I feel unique. I must be more than a composite of things that I like. I have talents and gifts, a sense of humor, a style and way of talking that are all part of who I am. No one is exactly like me. I am one of 7 billion people worldwide and I am the only me. That’s true, but everything about who we are, even the language we speak about ourselves, is learned and borrowed from others. Originality is a facade.

The problem is that we’re not designed to be individually unique. We get caught up in trying to be different because we’re so focused horizontally. Spinning around like tops, we focus on material things that take our attention as idols in our lives. As mirrors, we become reflections of that idolatry and slip into a sea of sameness. But our original orientation was meant to be vertical, to look upward and set our eyes on things above. To surround ourselves with good things, holy things, and things honoring God.

As children of God, we are saved by his grace, and our identity is found in Christ. Through this orientation, we view the material things around us differently. Apart from being in Christ, who I am is specific to me, and I am given that gift to worship and glorify God. My talents, hobbies, skills, interests, and abilities–all of who I am is meant to be used to praise and worship the one who created me. Who I appear to be horizontal will adapt and change over time. When my eyes are set on Christ, my mirror reflects his likeness.