.png)
A Lesson in Forgiveness and Closure
When you are driving, you have four things to take into account regarding vision. First, you have your windshield. Next you have your rearview mirror. Finally, there are two small mirrors on either side of the car. Your windshield shows you what is in front of you. Your rearview mirror shows you what is far behind and what’s close upon you. These windows and mirrors allow you to know when to move forward and when to slow down. They allow you to notice your surroundings and permit you to govern yourself accordingly. However, did you notice that your rear view mirror is right in the front of your field of vision when you’re trying to move forward?
I was recently asked to ponder this. The way it was presented, I immediately thought of the humanity of the Christ, even in the design of an automobile. It sounds crazy, but follow me. The automobile is an entity whose sole purpose is to transport you from one place to another. It protects you from the elements while on your way. It can sometimes protect you from poor choices in navigation on the behalf of others and it can protect you from yourself, just as well. Do you see where I’m going?
Again, I’ll say consider the size of the windshield and the mirrors and what they allow you to see. Your windshield is much larger, as it holds the view of endless roads of travel—which you are responsible to choose. It warns you when it’s time to exit and when it may be time to change lanes. The rear view mirror is the smallest. It allows you to see where you’ve come from while at the same time putting into perspective how small it is compared to what’s ahead…
As life happens, it’s plausible that our pasts have a great effect on how we live and move and experience our journey. For some, it’s a smorgasbord of exceptional memories and experiences that propel us forward into a full and meaningful life. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. For others, there are painful or shameful core memories that we see in our proverbial rear view mirrors that become paramount. They become all that we focus on. Shoot, sometimes it’s all that the world around us allows us to see. Our pasts can seem like that little rock that hits our windshield on the road making an intricate cut all across the window until it ultimately distorts our view and if we don’t get a new windshield, our perception of reality will continue to be less than our truth.
You know that print on the side mirrors that says, “Objects may be closer than they appear”? Well, that can happen when you ignore things or circumstances and try to move forward. Heaven forbid you try to change lanes in life and that hurt or that pain sneaks up into your blind spot and causes you to lose control for a moment as you try and gather yourself. I deal with that in a very personal relationship. There are past hurts—on both of our parts—that can tend to catch us off guard – that unspoken ought; that ever-present misunderstanding; that come-to-Jesus meeting that we seem to keep missing. They all add up to one word: unforgiveness. So every interaction acts like a little pebble to our windshield distorting our vision of each other.
Whatever your pebble may be; however close or far. However relevant or irrelevant, it must be addressed. No matter if it is self-inflicted or reinforced by the world around you. It’s necessary for your peace of mind and for that piece of mind you almost lost because you couldn’t let it go. Forgive yourself for allowing someone’s perception of you to define you. Often, when we adjust those mirrors and replace that broken or shattered windshield, our perspective changes and what lies ahead becomes our focus. We respect what is behind us. We are humble enough to acknowledge the blind spots, but we are confident enough to receive the closure that comes with forgiveness, change lanes, and keep it moving.
– Aria Lott
Aria Y. Lott is a person who is continuing to evolve through sharing her experience and is finding there is not only power in the love of God, but power in using her own successes and failures to encourage others to push until they cross the finish line. Aria is a joyful soul. She has experienced much to the contrary but realizes our belief in the possibility or existence of joy is what makes it tangible and challenges you to open yourself up to the possibility of joy and see what happens!
Comments