I am concerned about the man in the mirror.
This concern dates back to a College Psychology Class – Theories of Personality. This was the first time I heard the articulation of “projection” to mean: I project some INNER emotional or psychological issue onto another person – attributing the issue to that person when the issue is really my stuff.
Of course, this was taught to me by childhood friends [without tuition or textbook expenses] in a simple expression, which goes this way:
- I call any of my buddies “lazy,” or “cheap,” or anything demeaning. They respond, “It takes one to know one.”
- Or, more profound: “When you point one finger at me, three point back at you.”
So I have learned this hard lesson about judging relatives and friends, especially the difficult ones. I have to first take a look within, which is the first hard piece of evidence toward solving the problem at hand. I should be concerned about this guy in the mirror before making up a hit list of those who “done me wrong.”
Here is an example, perhaps a metaphor, an example we all can identify with. I am concerned about this man in the mirror because sometimes when people drive too slow in front of me on the highway I take my time and sing with the radio. Other times I want to run them over. It has something to do with whether that guy in my mirror [ME] is on time or running late for his appointment.
The faces of our reflections are real. Before we can remove proverbial “logs” from our eyes they must be seen and acknowledged for what they are. The mirror image is stark raving real – and many times I prefer to not face this reality. For this I am concerned.
Please pray with me: “GOD GRANT ME SERENITY TO ACCEPT THE THINGS I CANNOT CHANGE; COURAGE TO CHANGE THE THINGS I CANNOT; AND WISDOM KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.
Easy Conversation 
I am a Nichiren Buddhist. Although there are many differences between our two faiths there are also many things that are the same. The concept of the mirror is one that plays a big part in understanding who we are – what our nature is. “You should polish your mirror night and day.” because the mirror doesn’t lie. It shows us exactly who we are. We can try to run from those things we don’t want to except responsibility for, but ultimately it comes down to what we do, what we say and what we think. Those things have effects in our lives. If we don’t like what is happening, if we don’t like who we are, it up to us to examine who we are and see what it is we need to change. We don’t ask for something outside of us to change these things. We seek wisdom – inside. Wisdom that largely comes from mountains we have already climbed. If we blame someone else for our unhappiness we will never change it. If we run to somewhere else to get away, it will follow us. We have to change these things where we are right now. We have to look inside that mirror. That sometimes take courage. You call it “You reap what you sow.” We call it the law of cause and effect. It is the same thing. Unfortunately, many of the Christians I often talk to don’t apply that concept to their lives. They think it doesn’t matter because no matter what they do, no matter how they treat people, God will forgive them. Maybe so, but they still have to bear the consequences of their actions. They think their unhappiness is all part of God’s plan. But it isn’t. It is caused by not polishing their mirror.
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