One of my favorite childhood movies is Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs. This movie showcases an evil queen who wants a piece of whatever Snow White is having!
An iconic scene in this movie happens when the evil queen unveils her magic mirror. As she gazes into the mirror she says; “Magic mirror on the wall, who‘s the fairest of them all?” Much to the queen’s dismay, the magic mirror shows Snow White. The evil queen becomes envious and starts plotting how to take Snow White down.
This scene is actually quite poetic if you think about it! How often do we look at ourselves in the mirror and not see what we expected? Not see what was hoped for? Or become envious of what’s not there? How often do we look in a mirror and try a different angle, shed some more favorable light our way, or perhaps stand taller, push our shoulders back, or suck that tummy in a little to make ourselves feel the fairest of them all?
If that’s you - I want you to know you are beautiful inside in out, exactly as you are! You do not have to become or look like someone else. You look incredible just the way you are. Even the Bible says so! Check out proverbs 3:15-18 “She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.”
If we look at this scene through yet another lense, we learn that the queen is expecting to see herself in the mirror. Often we seek and befriend people who look like us (or shall I say mirror us). It’s just easier to become friends with someone you have so much in common with- maybe you attend the same church, have children a similar age, you both work nearby, live in the same community, and perhaps even look similar in skin color.
Yup, we are going there… and we ought to! In our school systems, we often talk about “windows and mirrors”. Kids need mirrors in their schools- staff, teachers, and students who look like them. Often, minority students are lacking in this department and have many more windows than mirrors.
This is so important to children and adults alike. To see people that look like you, act like you, share some common grounds with you. It helps us feel comfortable, accepted, safe, and maybe a little more “normal” when we see mirrors all around.
But what about when we don’t? What are we to do when there are not mirrors everywhere? Or when you see a new person at your workplace, school, or church that doesn’t have a ton of mirrors?
It really is quite simple: we become more like Jesus! Jesus knew there weren’t many mirrors, so he often went out of his way to become a mirror to others. He often went against social norms of his times, hanging out, talking with, supporting, and loving on people who were outcasts and sinners. He showed them grace, gentleness, care, and love in so many unexpected ways and places.
I challenge us the next time we see a “window” (whether it be ourselves or someone else) to step out of our comfort zones and start becoming mirrors. That doesn’t mean Joe Black enters your office doors and you immediately introduce him to Kevin Brown, because they both have brown skin. (Please, just don’t!)
No… it means you strike up a conversation with Joe to find a common ground, common interest, and become a mirror to each other in some way. Maybe you both enjoy a certain sports team, a favorite food, or hobby?
If we can live like Jesus did, becoming mirrors to everyone, the world will suddenly have so many more mirrors. I imagine the world will start to glow like a giant disco ball. And who doesn’t love a good party filled with disco lights?