Robert. L. Rosen, the American film producer, once remarked: "Self-reflection entails asking yourself questions about your values, assessing your strengths and failures, thinking about your perceptions and interactions with others, and imagining where you want to take your life in the future." James 1:22-25 informs us: “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.”
In our busy daily schedules, it is often difficult to take the necessary time out to reflect on our endeavors in life. Are we doing the right things? Do we have the right relationship with God? If not, how can we improve them? Our actions in life often portray to others our perception of what God wants us to do. As Christians, each of us has been given a defined purpose or road to follow by God. It is important, however, to regularly review our aims and objectives to establish whether or not we are still on the right track and following His intended desires. Jeremiah 29:11 confirms: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
One of the definitions of the word “Reflection” is serious thought or consideration. Life is continually changing and we too need to adapt accordingly from time to time. Our priority should be to do the wishes of God. 2 Corinthians 3:18 informs us: “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”
Reflection allows one to analyze their individual qualities and to make changes where deemed necessary. It identifies strengths and weaknesses amongst many other attributes. Our prosperity in life might be regarded as the direct result of espousal and consideration towards others and the response received in return. It has often been said that: "What goes around comes around." This idiom applies to both good and bad deeds. Life could be viewed as a large circle. A large, but empty circle. It has no defined inner content and no outer content beyond its circumference. Its purpose may be considered opaque. It is completely void except for the existence of the circle itself, but that circle could possibly represent a valuable human life. The circle of life, as it is known, is defined as a symbolic representation of a person's birth, existence, and inevitable death. In addition, carbon is considered the most essential element of life. It can form stable bonds with many different elements, just as we need to form stable bonds with others.
The shape of the sun is spherical, which is identical to a circle. However, whereas a circle is considered inanimate, in contrast, the sun can provide benefits. It provides heat, it can provide extra light, but perhaps more importantly, it can aid our inner health by boosting the body's vitamin D supply, which is considered good for our well-being. In Christianity, there is speculation that connects the biblical elements of Christ's life to those of a sun god. How true this is, is not known. The sun, shining on the water, can also reflect. Water can certainly mirror the image of a human being. Proverbs 27:19 states: “As in water, face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man.”
A story is told of an Astronomer who went on holiday to a coastal resort at the height of the tourist season. His primary intention was to re-evaluate his life by the reflection of his subsisting activities, as he felt his general direction in life was becoming opaque. On a particularly sunny day, when he stood in certain positions, he noticed that he was casting a shadow. He had seen this many times before, but today it appeared more profound. The shadow reflected an image of a person in opaque form, not in great or clear detail, but purely as an outline. This silhouette represented a living being - him. The penumbra that he saw caused him to think deeply about his life. He decided that he needed to change it from one with no definitive purpose to one of helping others more. He considered the probability that if he treated others badly, then in return, he could expect the same. But, if he treated others well, then, he also may encourage the same in return.
This idea appealed to him as it would make his life more fruitful and beneficial. Ephesians 4:29-32 informs us: “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
As he walked along the promenade, sometime later, he saw an elderly lady sitting on a bench by herself with tears streaming down her cheeks. He approached her and asked her if she was alright? She smiled at him and replied: "Thank you for your concern, I was just reflecting on the happy days of my marriage to my dear husband. He sadly passed away just over a year ago. Today would have been his birthday and I would have loved to take a bunch of flowers to lay on his grave, to show him that I still loved and was thinking of him.
He adored flowers and was a keen gardener in his active days. Unfortunately, I do not have sufficient money these days for such extravagance and so I can only sit here and fondly remember him." Tears welled up in the man's eyes and he took compassion on her. "Come with me, madam." He said: "We will go to a flower shop and have a bouquet made up for him. Then you can take it to the cemetery and give it to him in person and spend some time with him on his special day." The lady smiled and thanked him so much for his generosity. They went to a flower shop and selected a bouquet that came to precisely the same amount of money that he had in his wallet.
Later that day, he caught a bus to take him back to his hotel, but suddenly realized that he had no cash to pay for his fare. So he decided to get off the bus and walk. At that moment, a lady, sitting on the bus, suddenly approached him and asked: “Don’t you have the money, my dear?” “No.” He replied, “I had forgotten that I have already spent it.” “Don’t worry my dear.” She said: “Have the ride on me!” Matthew 7:12 confirms: “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”
Reflection is all about life, and life is all about reflection.
Amen.
