THE HOUSE OF MIRRORS

THE HOUSE OF MIRRORS

Phil Scovell

By Phil Scovell

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Contact Information

Phil Scovell

840 South Sheridan Boulevard

Denver, Colorado 80226-8017

Toll Free: 888-936-0001

Voice: 303-936-2188

Fax: 303-936-1841

BBS: 303-935-6323

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Home Page: http://www.crl.com/~zenith

One of my fondest, and most vivid, childhood memories was of

the Amusement Park near my home. Though nothing compared to

Disneyland, I can still see every ride, every booth, and every

hot dog stand. I can taste the warm buttered popcorn, the orange

crush soda pop, the cotton candy, and the sweetness of the cherry

flavored snowcones. I can feel the fine crushed rock beneath my

feet that layered most of the park. I can see the miniature

train puffing circuitously about the parks interior; its bell and

whistle sounding cheerfully. I can hear the music of the indoor

merry-go-round chiming to the spinning carousel. I hear the loud

voices of the barking sideshow men calling passer byes and

challenging all to compete. I can feel the pull of centrifugal

force as the Wild Mouse dives, climbs, and rockets around sharp

corners. I ride the shetland ponies again only to leap from

their backs to climb aboard the gliders which whirled about at a

forty-five degree angle; wobbling back-and-forth as I steer with

the wide front rudder. I jump into the wooden boats which

penetrates a long dark winding tunnel, listening to the teenagers

sneak kisses in the blackness, and eventually exit the other side

into dazzling sunlight. I can feel it climb slowly up the

creaking wooden support and plunge down the other side; striking

the cold water and throwing up a geyser of spray. I pocket

dozens of spent 22 shells ejected from the riffles by those

attempting to hit the bulls eye. I drop down into the soft

cushions of the inboard speed boat, watching the indicator pass

35 MPH as it carves

a path threw the lagoon about the park. Then there was the house

of mirrors.

Recently, while reading, I was reminded of the amusement

park. The author used a house of mirrors to illustrate how we

often see ourself and that those circumstantial assessments often

leave us with distorted and blurred reflections of our

personalities. As I read, I recalled the first time I entered

the house of mirrors; ricocheting off the polished glass walls

time and time again till exiting the other side. Later, when

older, I realized a way to walk straight threw the maze without

ever once bumping the glass or getting lost.

Entering the front door with my Mom and friends in toe, I

boldly took the point. I could hear the laughter behind me as

they studied their funny reflections in the warped and twisted

mirrors; touching cool surfaces experimentally to keep from

bumping their headS. I ignored the reflections, however, being

familiar with them from past experience.

Waiting patiently at the exit, I heard their footfalls as

they approached. "How did you get here so fast?" they wondered.

I never shared my secret. Since it may save others some

suffering as they attempt to negotiate the maze of life, I'll

share it now.

Using the mirrors as an illustration, we often look at

ourselves threw circumstances and think that such is a true

reproduction of what we really are. In another words, we look at

external evidence and thus arrive at a personal judgment. If we

don't inflict ourselves in this manner, someone surely will

somewhere along the way. An unloving parent, an unsupporting

spouse, a misguided friend, a taunting fellow worker; all can

play a part in the distortions we think we see in ourselves. The

Bible says, however, God doesn't judge this way. Once we have

confessed Christ as Lord and Saviour of our life, He becomes the

image God sees in us. That is, we look like Him; a chip, as it

were, off the old block.

Listening to another chapel speaker in Bible college proudly

announce his "life's verse, I decided I needed a life's verse.

Everybody else had one so why not me. I used everyone's life

verse I heard over a period of several years. This means I had a

new life's verse about every other month. None ever felt

comfortable. Finally while reading my Bible one afternoon, I

stumble across Colossians 2:10. "And you are complete in Him

which is the head of all principality and power." That was it!

Because of my blindness at age eleven, I somehow never quite felt

like a complete person. About the time I would convince myself

that such wasn't true, a particular experience or person would

suggest otherwise. Somehow this verse seem to fit perfectly. I

began using it immediately by signing every letter: "Complete In

Him. Indeed every Believer is complete in Christ no matter what

the reflections of life seem to say.

My secret method of negotiating the house of mirrors

successfully was to ignore the distorted reflections surrounding

me. I learned I could walk straight through the maze by either

looking at the floor to see where I was going, or by looking up

at the ceiling at the overhead lights for guidance. First, by

looking down, we can negotiate our paths: "Trust in the LORD

with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your

paths." Notice they are "our paths" which God will direct so

keep an eye on where you are walking; He's always where you are.

Second, don't forget to look up: "If you then be risen with

Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on

the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not

on things on the earth" (Col. 3:1-2).

Though it is easy to say we should ignore the distorted

reflections life sometimes displays, it is much more difficult to

practice. Those fractured images often have longlasting effects

upon us even as Christians. Thus it is we need to carry each

others burdens and pray for one another. Keep your eyes on the

road, ignore the distortions, and look up to see the glory of

God. He sees His Son's reflection in you.

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