Naming Illusions
This is no illusion, there IS more snow out there. I must admit, I don't find myself using the word illusion very often. When I think of illusions my mind jumps to magicians such as Harry Houdini or David Copperfield as illusionists. Sarah says that most simply, "illusions distort reality." Something seems very real when it isn't. Illusions and delusions often lead us to the wrong conclusions. How do I distort reality so that I can manage my everyday? I put up walls to protect me so that I don't have to face my fears, or take risks, or experience anxiety. Oh, but when I break those walls down, I open myself to LIFE with its many facets and feelings. Most days I name the illusions and grab hold of reality. Others? I'm just thankful that God loves me unconditionally! How are illusions and/or delusions part of your every day?
I have so enjoyed reading the reflections from folks over the last week and a half. Thanks for your insights! We feed one anothers roots as we share this Lenten journey. Joan Lilja
I have so enjoyed reading the reflections from folks over the last week and a half. Thanks for your insights! We feed one anothers roots as we share this Lenten journey. Joan Lilja
posted by Melanie at 9:27 AM
1 Comments:
I use illusions/ delusions every day! I think as girls/women we may be more suseptible to this when it comes to other women... We pick up on signals from others that we believe are real, when in reality they are "armors" they have put on to protect them from harm... Cockiness, smugness, superiority complex, snobbishness, or even self-deprecation all can be off-putting until I recognize them as armor.. Then I can see through to the real person underneath...
I struggled with inferiority complex all my life, where people saw me as being confident and outgoing... So I in turn perceived others as being superior, when in reality, they were hiding their own insecurities...
As a Christian woman, I can not allow myself to be deluded by people's outward appearances... "man looks on the outward...but God looks at the heart"... I struggle to be more like God in that way... Don't let my perceptions get in the way of sharing love with people who are hurting underneath all that armor...
And what other armor do we need to look past? Tattoos, body piercings, colorful hairdos, people with noticable (self-induced) scars... Could they possibly try any harder to look unapproachable? Yet they are hurting deeply... Love is the weapon to pierce that armor...
"the weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world... they have divine power to demolish strongholds"...
I so appreciate the staff at church for this ability to see past all of our illusions to the real self inside... It's the first step toward breaking down those walls that divide us, and allowing healing and peace to begin!
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