As I sat in the passenger seat I could not help but notice that every time the driver wanted to change lanes on the busy freeway that he would completely turn around and look out the back window of the car. Realizing that I was a little nervous he asked, “Do you have a problem with my driving?” What I wanted to say (scream) was, “What do you think? We’re going seventy miles an hour in busy traffic and you’re looking behind us. Yes, I have a problem with it!” Instead, I politely asked, “Why don’t you use your mirrors?” To which he replied, “I don’t trust the mirrors.”

Not only do I consider that a dangerous habit for drivers, it is also not a healthy way to live. In the movie “The Majestic,” at one point Luke (Played by Jim Carey) has lost his memory due to an accident and stands in front of a mirror staring at this person he could not identify. The rest of the town was certain of who he was, but he had no idea who he was or where he came from. What a frustrating predicament that would be! When we can’t trust the mirrors something is wrong.

When we don’t trust the mirrors we will never believe that what we see is really true. We will never accept the changes the aging process has produced. We will never believe that the things we see when we look in the mirror are a part of us. “I’m not that fat, am I?” “Those wrinkles do not belong to me!” “What is all that white stuff in my hair?” Or, and even more dangerous misbelief some young ladies struggle with, “Yuck! Look how fat I am!”

As dangerous as not trusting physical mirrors is, there is an even greater danger involving mirrors. It is when we refuse to look accept when we look into the mirror of our soul…the Word of God. James writes, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it–he will be blessed in what he does.” (James 1:22-25, NIV) Through God’s word we can see His will for our lives, His desire for us, His dreams of what we can be if we will only accept who we are in His sight.

Mirrors serve an important purpose. While driving they help us see what is behind us. While dressing they help us see how we look. Looking into the word of God helps us see who God wants us to be.

Maybe you don’t trust the mirrors on your car. Maybe you don’t like what you see when you look in the mirror in your bathroom. You can probably survive with those (but don’t ask me to ride with you). But, please don’t ignore what you see in God’s mirror. It is more that life and death. It involves eternal life.

You can trust His mirror,

Tom

Ninure Saunders

~~~

Ninure, I really enjoy your stories but you got the wrong idea here. As a motorcyclist I always turn my head after looking in my mirrors to make sure there is no-one alongside me before I change lanes. I do the same in my car. Mirrors don’t show the whole picture.

Cheers

Theo

~~~

Theo is right. It is very bad practice to trust your mirrors.

The correct procedure to teach a young driver when changing lanes or making other such manuveurs is MISS

M – Mirror. Check in the mirror

I – Indicate. Use the indicators to signal intentions

S – Shoulder. Look over your shoulder to confirm it really is safe.

S – Steer. Only after the steps above should you actually make the manuveur itself.

The driver described above is applying best and safest practice.

Some references. Hazard perception handbook (NSW) See page 55-56. <http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/licensing/hptbook.pdf>

Cheers — Chris