Getting from "Here" to "There"

By Belinda


One of the books I'm reading at the moment is,Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me) by Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson. The book is recommended reading for a course I am taking on Conflict Mediation. The authors had me at the title (and the sub-title: "Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts.)


So far into the book I am convinced--we all have blind spots and are adept only at spotting those of others. In fact, the chapter I am currently reading starts out by quoting Matthew 7:3 to illustrate this point:

Matthew 7:3

New King James Version (NKJV)

³ And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?

The trouble is that all too often I read the Bible as though it is a collection of stories, about "someone else," (those handily self righteous Pharisees,) rather than turning the searchlight onto my own heart; asking the hard questions of myself.

In my course we learned the principle of moving from judgement to curiousity when considering the actions of other. That is such a potentially powerful shift; from: "You did this"--and sometimes even "because..." to: "I saw (or heard, or felt) this; help me understand..."

I do poorly at this. But the first step is to know what to aim for.

At this point in the book I am tempted to hopelessness, so convinced am I of the blindness; both willful and unconscious; of the human race.

But I serve and trust the God of all Hope. This is this morning's Daily Light: 

But the fruit of the Spirit is… peace.
To set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
God has called you to peace.—“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you.”—May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.—You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.—“Whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”Great peace have those who love your law.

• Morning: Galatians 5:22; Romans 8:6; 1 Corinthians 7:15; John 14:27; Romans 15:13; 2 Timothy 1:12; Isaiah 26:3; Isaiah 32:17; Isaiah 32:18; Proverbs 1:33; Psalm 119:165

Listening to him...I do so little of that in comparison to listening to the clamouring voice of my own opinions and prejudices. 

Dear Lord, forgive me. Thank you that your ways are predicated on the fact that we know little, and what we think we know is often distorted by our own pain, upbringing, and the warping of the world. How I thank you for your promise in Romans 12 , that transformation is possible. Thank you that you are the opener of eyes, minds and hearts.


Only with God's transforming work in us, can we get from "here"(the land of the blind)  to "there," (the land of those who see with his eyes.)