LECTURE 23
OF THE DIVERSE WAYS WE BEHOLD OURSELVES : THE USES OF MIRRORS
Mirrors play a very vital role in our daily lives; they produce a virtual image of all that comes before it. They inform us on the texture, shape and appearance of our bodies. They also project symmetry, physique etc.
Aside giving us an exact reflection of ourselves, they also aid us in detecting any distortion in appearance. They do so by instigating us with a form of reflex to correct them with insistence.
We have these mirrors everywhere; some even have them in their pockets and purses. We hold it before our face from time to time to see how far we have deviated in appearance or looks so as to get back on track. Hardly do we adorn ourselves without a mirror to direct and guide us. It is always held as the Jacob’s ladder to which the heights of beauty is attained.
Friends, should you ask me, I will say that this kind of mirror is not harmful for you. However, it is expedient that you exercise caution anytime you stand before it. Because it may lead you to think so highly of yourself as well as rob you of useful time. For some in standing before glass mirrors have wasted time devoted to useful activities whilst others in paying heed to looks have had their souls lifted unto pride and fooleries. Inasmuch as these mirrors are distinctively accurate in reflecting substance, I will say it still doesn’t give the best reflection. No it doesn’t!
There is also another kind of mirror with us today which is like unto the first. This mirror unlike the first is not moulded with hands but with ego. It call it the ‘self-mirror’. What do I mean by the self-mirror? I mean the ‘me’ and the ‘I’ with which man always behold himself. This is also a type of mirror and it dutifully reflects everything that comes before it, wishing it entirely for its benefit. I exhort you not to behold yourself in this kind of mirror since its reflections are too harmful for you. Her images are false and poisonous. Should you be in possession of such a mirror, I advise that you cast it away from you with all diligence. You ought to distill its venom with patience and humility.
There is also yet another kind of mirror which men hardly know. With the exception of certain pious saints who make time to contemplate and meditate over death, the greater majority of men do not know about this mirror. For even if they know, they deem it disgusting. Inasmuch as they may consider it as such, I for one fell in love with it the very moment my soul made that ingenious discovery. It did give me a very powerful reflection of myself; an accurate one for that matter. It also gave me a timely reflection of all the things I brought before it. Guess what mirror it is? Well, it is ‘The Mirror of Death’s’. Oh how I love this mirror.
I love to stand before it continually and to look into it. It shows me how little, how weak and how powerless the clay is. It makes me nothing, gives me nothing and renders me nothing. I love it for the privilege of whittling me down to size. Its sublime reflections have taught me greater humility. How I wish every man had this mirror before him. Though God, in His providence, does bring it before us from time to time, creation would dare not look into it. Even with the very few who are bold to look, they will barely look again the second time. But I love it for real.
Many have wondered at my manner of life and have deeply desired that I should tell them the method by which I arrived at my singleness of heart and excelling virtues. I must say that my diligence in looking into this mirror is one significant practice that helped me. It has rendered me blind to feminine beauties and worldly felicities. It has also quenched all my passions and worldly lust. For if anything will quench the heat of lust, abate the heights of pride, appease the itch of covetous desires, and cure our raging desire to possess vanity, this must do. It has cure for many of our trifling ailments. It renders everything bitter and God only sweet.
Again, looking into this special type of mirror by means of frequent meditations on death, would greatly advance you in charity and humility. As a type of Balaam’s donkey, it will also restrain you from madness as you ply an unworthy course.
Also, should any ego inflate in you, looking into this mirror will save you from destroying yourself. With an ice pick, it will puncture all the inflated egos in your life and deflate all your pride with insistence. It will bring out all the air in your egos through many popping and hissing. Trust me, it will whittle you down to size and remedy all your pride. Of course it will make you gloomy and sad but it is for your eternal good. The sorrows it awakens works to your profit.
“For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death” (2 Corinthian 7:10).
There is indeed great salvation in the diligent contemplations of death and the pains of hell. “The thought of death”, said Fénelon, “is the best rule which we could make for all our actions and undertakings”
However, for the hearts which are very delicate to receive the reflections of this mirror, (which is in the form of the meditations and contemplations of death), my only direction to you is to give diligence to bring the reflections before your very eyes. You may do that by attending funerals and visiting mortuaries as it comes in your ability to do so. The reflections you receive from these places may urge you to prepare yourself for eternity. Wisdom teaches us to learn from the misfortune of others.
But should that also be difficult, then I exhort you to do this for it will equally advance you to total devotion to God – adorn yourself as though you were dead, lie down in any wooden casket or on a decorated bed and let another take a picture of you. After taking the picture, make a print of it and paste it in your room. You may also keep a smaller print in your pocket as some love to do with glass mirors. Just bring this image before your eyes from time to time and you will learn to appreciate your own littleness with time. That notwithstanding, it will hurl you into the hands of The Faithful Keeper and He will dutifuly keep that soul in eternity. The Lord will grow sweeter unto you through it.
I have tasted it and I can tell you for a fact that there is God in that picture. For if it were evil, I will tell you!
SWEET PEACE, WHERE DOST THOU DWELL
By George Herbert
Sweet Peace, where dost thou dwell,--I humbly crave,
Let me once know?
I sought thee in a secret cave,
And ask'd if Peace were there.
A hollow wind did seem to answer, 'No;
Go seek elsewhere.'
I did; and going did a rainbow note:
Surely, thought I,
This is the lace of Peace's coat:
I will search out the matter.
But while I look'd, the clouds immediately
Did break and scatter.
Then went I to a garden, and did spy
A gallant flower,--
The Crown Imperial. Sure, said I,
Peace at the root must dwell.
But when I digg'd, I saw a worm devour
What show'd so well.
At length I met a reverend good old man;
Whom when for Peace
I did demand, he thus began:
'There was a Prince of old
At Salem dwelt, Who lived with good increase
Of flock and fold.
'He sweetly lived; yet sweetness did not save
His life from foes.
But after death out of His grave
There sprang twelve stalks of wheat;
Which many wondering at, got some of those
To plant and set.
'It prosper'd strangely, and did soon disperse
Through all the earth;
For they that taste it do rehearse
That virtue lies therein:
A secret virtue, bringing peace and mirth
By flight of sin.
'Take of this grain, which in my garden grows,
And grows for you:
Make bread of it; and that repose
And peace, which everywhere
With so much earnestness you do pursue,
Is only there.'