I CORINTHIANS 13:9-12 | “IN A MIRROR, DIMLY…”

“IN A MIRROR, DIMLY…”

I CORINTHIANS 13:9-12

JANUARY 8, 2017

LET’S FACE IT – WE HAVE A LOVE/HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH MIRRORS.

SOMETIMES, THEY ARE OUR FRIENDS; OTHER TIMES – NOT!  WE LIKE THEM, WHEN WE LIKE US.   WE LOATHE THEM, WHEN WE LOATHE OURSELVES.

WHEN THAT NEW OUTFIT COMES TOGETHER JUST AS WE HAD HOPED; WHEN WE’VE TIED THE PERFECT TIE; WHEN WE LIKE WHAT WE’VE DONE WITH OUR HAIR, OR WHAT THE STYLIST WAS ABLE TO DO; THEY ARE OUR FRIENDS.

MIRRORS ARE NOT OUR FRIENDS IN BATHING SUIT SEASON; WHICH, OF COURSE, AROUND HERE, IS PRETTY MUCH ALL THE TIME.  WE BLAME THE MIRROR WHEN OUR BODY NO LONGER LOOKS LIKE IT ONCE DID; OR HOW WE HOPED IT WOULD.

WHEN I WAS LITTLE, AND WAITING FOR MY MOTHER WHILE SHE WAS TRYING ON CLOTHES AT A DEPARTMENT STORE, I USED TO LIKE TO PLAY IN THOSE MIRRORS WHERE YOU COULD SEE YOURSELF FROM EVERY SIDE…

NOT SO MUCH, NOW THAT I AM 60.

MIRRORS, GOOD OR BAD, REFLECT US AS WE REALLY ARE; MAYBE, AS WE HOPE WE ARE; BUT THEN AGAIN, THEY ARE ONLY A PARTIAL REFLECTION OF WHO WE TRULY ARE, BECAUSE THEY ONLY SHOW THE OUTSIDE.

ON JANUARY 31, 1872, HENRY WARD BEECHER TRAVELED TO YALE TO DELIVER THE FIRST OF THE BEECHER LECTURES ON PREACHING, WHICH HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED IN MEMORY OF HIS FATHER.

HIS BIOGRAPHER WRITES:

“HE HAD A BAD NIGHT, NOT FEELING WELL.  WENT TO HIS HOTEL, GOT HIS DINNER, LAY DOWN TO TAKE A NAP.  ABOUT TWO O’CLOCK HE GOT UP AND BEGAN TO SHAVE WITHOUT HAVING BEEN ABLE TO GET AT ANY PLAN OF THE LECTURE HE WAS TO DELIVER IN AN HOUR.

JUST AS HE HAD HIS FACE LATHERED AND WAS BEGINNING TO STRAP THE RAZOR, THE WHOLE THING CAME OUT OF THE CLOUDS AND DAWNED ON HIM.

HE DROPPED THE RAZOR, SEIZED HIS PENCIL, AND AFTERWARDS, CUT HIMSELF BADLY, HE SAID, THINKING IT OUT.”

HERE’S WHAT AUTHOR FREDERICK BUECHNER SAYS OF ALL OF THIS:

“AND WELL THE OLD PREACHER MIGHT HAVE CUT HIMSELF WITH HIS RAZOR BECAUSE PART OF THE INNER WORLD THAT HIS LECTURE CAME FROM, WAS THE DEEP TROUBLE HE WAS IN, OR THE DEEP TROUBLE THAT WAS IN HIM.

THE GOSSIP ABOUT HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE WIFE OF ONE OF HIS PARISHIONERS HAD LEFT THE WHISPERING STAGE AND WAS BEGINNING TO APPEAR MORE OR LESS DIRECTLY IN PRINT.

COMPROMISING LETTERS WERE BEING HANDED AROUND AND TEARFUL CONFESSIONS MADE.  PEOPLE WERE TAKING SIDES.  CHARGES WERE BEING FORMULATED.  A PUBLIC TRIAL FOR ADULTERY WAS NOT FAR OFF.

IT WAS NOT JUST HIS REPUTATION AND CAREER THAT WERE IN DANGER BUT IN SOME MEASURE THE CHURCH ITSELF – EVERYTHING HE BELIEVED IN AND STOOD FOR AND HAD COME TO YALE TO TALK ABOUT.

SO, WHEN HE STOOD THERE LOOKING INTO THE HOTEL MIRROR WITH SOAP ON HIS FACE AND A RAZOR IN HIS HAND, PART OF WHAT HE SAW WAS HIS OWN SHAME AND HORROR, THE SIGHT OF HIS OWN FOLLY…

THE JUDGEMENT ONE CAN IMAGINE HE FOUND EVEN HARDER TO BEAR THAN GOD’S, WAS HIS OWN JUDGEMENT ON HIMSELF, BECAUSE WHEREAS GOD IS MERCIFUL, WE ARE NONE OF US VERY GOOD AT SHOWING MERCY ON OURSELVES.

HENRY WARD BEECHER CUT HIMSELF WITH HIS RAZOR, AND WROTE OUT NOTES FOR THAT FIRST BEECHER LECTURE IN BLOOD BECAUSE, WHATEVER ELSE HE WAS, OR ASPIRED TO BE, OR WAS FAMOUS FOR BEING, HE WAS A MAN OF FLESH AND BLOOD…”

AND THAT’S HOW IT IS WITH US; WHEN WE STAND IN FRONT OF OUR MIRROR – WE SEE AN OUTWARD REFLECTION, WE LOVE OR HATE, OR BOTH;

AT TIMES – A DIM REFLECTION OF WHAT’S GOING ON INSIDE OF US, WORN ON OUR FACES, OR STOOPED SHOULDERS, OR SLUMPING STANCE;

MAYBE, AT TIMES, WE LIKE WHAT WE SEE: STANDING PROUD; FIT-AS-A-FIDDLE; HAPPY WITH WHERE WE ARE IN LIFE; OUR INWARD LIGHT REFLECTED IN THE BROAD SMILE AND BRIGHT COUNTENANCE THAT STANDS BEFORE US.

BUT WHEN THE APOSTLE PAUL TALKS ABOUT “OUR SEEING IN MIRROR DIMLY” HE’S NOT TALKING ABOUT OUR SEEING OUR REFLECTIONS, BUT REFLECTIONS OF GOD IN THE WORLD.

“NOW WE SEE IN A MIRROR DIMLY…” THAT IS, IN THIS WORLD, THIS SIDE OF HEAVEN, AT LEAST, WHAT WE SEE OF GOD IS DIMLY REFLECTED IN THE WORLD AROUND US; IN THE THINGS, AROUND US; IN THE PEOPLE AROUND US;

AND YES, EVEN IN OURSELVES, LOOKING IN THAT MIRROR, LOVING AND HATING WHAT WE SEE.

THEY ARE, GLIMPSES OF GOD… DIVINE GLANCES… POTENTIAL SIGHTINGS OF GOD IN OUR MIDST…

“NOW WE SEE IN A MIRROR, DIMLY, BUT THEN WE WILL SEE FACE TO FACE…”

“NOW WE KNOW IN PART, THEN WE WILL KNOW FULLY…”

WHAT PAUL IS SAYING IS: HERE AND NOW, THIS SIDE OF HEAVEN, WE SEE GOD DIMLY, IN PART, IN GLIMPSES AND GLANCES; BUT WHEN WE GET TO HEAVEN, WE WILL SEE CLEARLY, FULLY, FACE TO FACE…

PAUL GOES ON TO SAY, PERHAPS TO OUR GREAT CHAGRIN, GOD, HOWEVER, SEES US FULLY, KNOWS US COMPLETELY, UNFLINCHINGLY…

GOD SEES THE TRUTH OF US INSIDE AND OUT… AND AS SCARY AS THAT MAY BE, PAUL STILL PROMISES US THAT ONE DAY, IN HEAVEN, WE WILL SEE GOD IN THE EXACT SAME WAY…

FULLY, COMPLETELY, TOTALLY – IN ALL GOD’S GLORY AND TRUTH – AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT FACE TO FACE!

IN THE MEANTIME, HOWEVER, PAUL SAYS, AND WE KNOW IT TO BE TRUE, WE MUST SETTLE FOR GLIMPSES AND GLANCES OF GOD; DIMLY MIRRORED REFLECTIONS OF THE DIVINE IN THE WORLD.

BUT WHERE TO LOOK?  AND NOT JUST LOOK – BUT LOOKING FOR…

WELL, THAT’S THE EASY PART – WE CAN LOOK FOR GOD ALL AROUND US; ALMOST EVERYWHERE!

IF THE REST OF THE 13^TH CHAPTER OF I CORINTHIANS IS TO BE BELIEVED, AND I THINK IT IS, THE FIRST PLACE WE SEE GOD IS IN LOVE;

THE LOVE OF CHRIST FOR THE CHURCH, AND VICE VERSA;

THE LOVE BETWEEN TWO PEOPLE;

THE LOVE FOR GOD, NEIGHBOR, AND FOR SELF, AS CHRIST SAID.

THE LOVE FOR ENEMY AND STRANGER, ALSO, AS CHRIST SAID.

SO, WHERE ELSE CAN WE SEE GOD?

IN NATURE, OF COURSE; THE OCEANS, THE MOUNTAINS, THE NIGHT SKY; THE RISING AND SETTING OF THE SUN; IN FLOWERS AND TREES; IN BIRDS AND BEES;

WE SEE GOD IN THAT WHICH IS BEAUTIFUL; WHERE THERE IS LOVE; WHEREVER KINDNESS AND CHARITY ARE ON DISPLAY; DAILY GLIMPSES AND GLANCES OF THE DIVINE.

BUT, WHERE ELSE?

WELL, SOMETIMES WE SEE GOD IN PLACES WHERE WE LEAST EXPECT IT.  WHERE THERE IS PAIN, SADNESS, AND SORROW.  WHERE PEOPLE ARE HURTING, HOPELESS, AND HELPLESS.

WE SEE GOD WITH THE LEAST, THE LAST, THE LOST, AND THE LONELY.

BECAUSE, IF THE GOD OF THE CROSS HAS TAUGHT US ANYTHING, HE HAS TAUGHT US THAT HE IS WITH US IN THE WORST OF IT, AS WELL AS THE BEST.

TEARS ARE OFTEN A GOOD INDICATION OF GOD’S PRESENCE – TEARS OF SORROW, OF SADNESS, BUT ALSO TEARS OF JOY, OF LAUGHTER; ESPECIALLY THOSE TIMES WHEN WE LAUGH UNTIL WE CRY!

CALL THEM WHAT YOU WILL – CHILL BUMPS, GOOSE BUMPS, THE LITTLE HAIRS ON YOUR ARMS STANDING UP, THAT TINGLING SENSATION RUNNING UP AND DOWN YOUR SPINE, THOSE ARE OFTEN TIMES WHEN GOD IS PRESENT.

SO ARE MOMENTS OF DEEP SILENCE; PROFOUND THOUGHT; OUR “AH HA” MOMENTS!  WHEN THE CLOUDS PART, AND THEREIN LIES THE ANSWER.

I BELIEVE GOD IS PRESENT WHEN ANOTHER’S HUMANITY IS SO ON DISPLAY THAT IT CATCHES US UP IN OUR OWN;

LIKE WHEN WE SEE SOMEONE CRYING, OR LAUGHING, OR SUFFERING, OR SUCCEEDING, AND IN THEM, WE SEE OURSELVES, AND OUR COMMON HUMANITY.

IT’S NOT ONLY SEEING, OF COURSE, OUR OTHER SENSES CAN GET IN ON THE ACT AS WELL, AND GOD IS PRESENT THERE TOO;

LIKE HEARING A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF MUSIC; OR “OUR SONG;” OR BEING STIRRED TO THE CORE OF OUR BEING WHEN HEARING SOMETHING INSPIRING.

THE TOUCH OF A MOTHER’S HAND TO THE SIDE OF HER BABY’S FACE, REFLECTING UPON THE ABSOLUTE MIRACLE OF IT ALL – AND GOD IS THERE;

THE SMELL AND TASTE OF A HOME-COOKED MEAL, ESPECIALLY IF IT IS YOUR MOTHER’S COOKING, AND IT’S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE YOU ATE FROM HER HAND.

A FATHER’S REASSURING HUG; A GRANDCHILD GENTLY TRACING THE LINES OF YOUR FACE; AN EMBRACE, A KISS, TWO PEOPLE TRULY IN LOVE; AND GOD IS THERE.

AND YES, EVEN IN US, STANDING IMPERFECTLY BEFORE THE MIRROR, GOD SEEING US, KNOWING US FULLY…

PERHAPS IT IS HERE, WITHIN US, THAT WE SEE GOD MOST DIMLY OF ALL, GIVEN WHAT WE SAID EARLIER ABOUT HOW WE JUDGE OURSELVES;

BUT EVEN AT THAT, MAYBE WE BELIEVE IT WILDLY POSSIBLE THAT AT LEAST A SPARK OF GOD’S PRESENCE LIES WITHIN US AS WELL.

IN HER BOOK, AN ALTAR IN THE WORLD, IN A CHAPTER ENTITLED: THE PRACTICE OF WEARING SKIN, BARBARA BROWN TAYLOR WRITES (NOW, PREPARE YOURSELVES!):

“FOR INSTANCE, I CAN SAY THAT I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO PRAY NAKED IN FRONT OF A FULL-LENGTH MIRROR SOMETIMES, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE FULL OF LOATHING FOR YOUR BODY.

MAYBE YOU THINK YOU ARE TOO HEAVY.  MAYBE YOU NEVER LIKED THE WAY YOUR HIP BONES STICK OUT.  ARE YOU SAGGING?  TOO HAIRY?  IT’S ALWAYS SOMETHING.

THEN AGAIN, MAYBE YOU’VE BEEN SICK, OR COME THROUGH SOME SURGERY THAT HAS CHANGED THE WAY YOU LOOK.

THIS CAN ONLY GO ON SO LONG… WHETHER YOU ARE SICK OR WELL, LOVELY OR IRREGULAR, THERE COMES A TIME WHEN IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT FOR YOUR SPIRITUAL HEALTH TO DROP YOUR CLOTHES, LOOK IN THE MIRROR, AND SAY:

‘HERE I AM.  THIS IS THE BODY-LIKE-NO-OTHER THAT MY LIFE HAS SHAPED.  I LIVE HERE.  THIS IS MY SOUL’S ADDRESS.’

AFTER YOU HAVE TAKEN A GOOD LOOK AROUND, YOU MAY DECIDE THERE IS A LOT TO BE THANKFUL FOR, ALL THINGS CONSIDERED.

BODIES TAKE REAL BEATINGS.  THAT THEY HEAL FROM MOST THINGS IS AN UNDERRATED MIRACLE.  THAT THEY GIVE BIRTH IS BEYOND RECKONING.”

SO, YES, GOD EVEN LIVES AT THIS ADDRESS.

THE PEOPLE, PLACES, AND THINGS IN WHICH THE PRESENCE OF GOD IS, ARE ENDLESS; AS IT SHOULD BE, FOR ONE WHO IS IMMORTAL, INVISIBLE, AND EVERYWHERE PRESENT AT ONCE.

BUT, AS PAUL SAYS, “ONLY IN PART…”  “IN A MIRROR, DIMLY…” DO WE SEE.

STILL, IT IS WORTH TRYING TO CATCH SIGHT OF GOD IN OURSELVES, IN OUR DAILY LIVES, IN THE PEOPLE, PLACES, AND THINGS THAT TAKE PLACE IN LIFE.

WE CAN’T JUST LOOK, WE MUST BE LOOKING FOR… FOR THE INCARNATION OF GOD IN ALL.

SO, WHETHER IT IS REMBRANDT’S SELF-PORTRAIT, SHAKESPEARE’S WRITINGS, OR BACH’S B-MINOR MASS, THE EVIDENCE FOR GOD IS ALL AROUND US.

GOD IS JUST AS PRESENT IN THE GROCERY STORE CLERK, THE HIGH-SCHOOL MATH TEACHER, AND THE WOMAN WHO SCRUBS THE FLOORS OUT AT LOWER KEYS MEDICAL CENTER, AS HE IS IN GREAT WORKS OF ART OR MUSIC;

IN THE SOLEMNITY AND STAINED-GLASS OF A SANCTUARY;

OR IN THE FULL SPAN OF SPACE, AND THE COSMOS.

GOD IS WITH THEM; GOD IS WITH US; EMMANUEL, AS WE’VE BEEN SAYING THROUGHOUT THE ADVENT/CHRISTMAS SEASON – GOD IS WITH US!

AND IF YOU BELIEVE THE HOLY SPIRIT, EVEN WITHIN US.

ONE DAY, ACCORDING TO THE APOSTLE PAUL, WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE; WHEN WE, ARE SAID AND DONE; WHEN OUR BODY IS NO MORE, AND THIS WORLD IS NO MORE, AT LEAST FOR US, WE WILL GET TO SEE GOD FACE TO FACE;

AND JUST AS GOD HAS KNOWN US FULLY, COMPLETELY, TOTALLY; WE WILL GET TO KNOW GOD IN THE SAME WAY.

IN THE MEANTIME, WE ARE LEFT TO GLIMPSES AND GLANCES, THE OCCASIONAL SIGHTINGS, THE DIMLY LIT REFLECTIONS OF GOD ALL AROUND US, AND IN US;

BUT YOU KNOW, FOR THE TIME BEING, MAYBE THAT’S ENOUGH; MAYBE, IT’S ALL WE CAN HANDLE.

IF WE ARE OPEN TO LOOKING… LOOKING FOR… SEEING… AND SENSING THE PRESENCE OF GOD WHEN IT HAPPENS, WE WILL KNOW IT WHEN WE SEE IT.