A totally calm surface of a lake becomes a mirror for the sky and the surrounding landscape. A completely surrendered spirit can be a mirror of stillness, creating a perfect reflection of divine beauty. Such reflections of what is above bring the glory of the heavens onto what lies serenely below.
My Mysterious Mind
I love moving water — babbling brooks, waterfalls, and ocean waves. But there is something unspeakably magnificent about perfectly still water reflecting a perfect copy of the sky and the surrounding shore. A few years ago, my husband and I were camping in the fall and went fishing at the campground pond. The gorgeous fall day was demonstrated in the colors of the leaves and the beautiful white streaks of clouds across the peaceful blue sky. As if to multiply the wonderful display of trees and sky, the surface of the pond was completely calm, providing a mirror on which to capture a perfect reflection.
I caught the moment in a photograph, included in this post. Even the tiniest ripple would have distorted the mirror image. A breeze from above or movement from below and the stillness would have been disrupted, the mirror impaired. One recent morning I saw something similar on my drive across Lake Springfield. The water was totally still, providing an extraordinary duplication of the rock wall along the northern edge of the lake. I took a picture in my mind but couldn’t capture one in my phone because it isn’t safe to stop suddenly on a bridge.
That reflection caused me to reflect on that previous reflection. Perfect conditions of stillness from above and below, combined to allow a mirrored duplication of nature’s tapestry. The mirror of stillness allowed a perfect reflection.
How is my life like that? And, more importantly, how is it NOT like that? When am I still and reflecting beauty? When are the waters of my spirit stirred by storms around me or vortexes within me?
The turbulence of surrounding events can disturb my stillness. From a tiny pebble that troubles my calm, to a violent storm whipping me around, calmness can be unsettled by what happens around me. What is happening in your world that threatens your stillness?
In addition, deep turmoil can interrupt the stillness. Buried below the surface, each of us have wounds that never healed, and grievances never forgiven. These hidden vortexes, when they come to the surface, threaten our stillness, distorting our image of perfect reflection and beauty. What potential turmoil lies beneath the surface, disrupting your calm?
A still surface is required to achieve a perfect reflection. A mirror of stillness can only happen when the forces around and those within are at peace. What can we learn about ourselves by reflecting on the mirror of stillness?
Message of Mystery Acres
Mystery Acres is a place for stillness, but there are no mirror water surfaces there. My husband would love to have a pond, but there isn’t one there yet. We don’t have a reflecting pool, just a hammock. I can rest in it, gazing at the trees and the sky beyond them, reflecting the beauty in my being.
The majesty of the sky, unspoiled by power lines or jet trails, invites reflection. At night, the vast array of uncountable stars elicits a stilled sense of awe. Reflecting pools probably help us do just that, reflect – the perfection of the sky is reflected on the surface of the water, filling our senses with its unfathomable beauty. A sky painted by the divine, untainted, unspoiled by human clutter is displayed above and reflected from below in the stillness of the water.
The message of Mystery Acres whispers an invitation to be still and reflect the beauty nearby. It also beckons us to find places of beauty, unspoiled by human turmoil, in which we can find peace. Such calmness around us can help quiet the troubled waters within us, perfecting a beautiful reflection in a mirror of stillness.
Ancient Mystery’s Voice
“We reflect the glory of the Lord in a mirror and are being changed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Cor. 3:18)
High quality mirrors are a modern invention. Earlier versions existed, even in Biblical times, but the reflections were imperfect. In Paul’s second letter to the people of Corinth, he said “We reflect the glory of the Lord in a mirror and are being changed into His image with ever-increasing glory.” Paul was describing an imperfect reflection, like that in a crude mirror, but a reflection that would improve with the Lord’s help. Each of us is an imperfect mirror, like a rippled surface of water, but the Spirit of the Lord could smooth out those imperfections, making us better able to reflect His perfect glory.
This reminds me of the creation of the world. In the second verse of the Bible, the world was dark, and the waters were tumultuous. “The Spirit of God was hovering over the waters,” preparing to bring order from the chaos. As creation unfolded, the waters were organized. Similarly, when I am in tumult, the Spirit of God hovers over me, over my “waters,” and brings order from chaos.
When Jesus was traveling with the disciples on the Sea of Galilee, a violent storm arose. The boat was tossed wildly about, and the men were terrified. Jesus told the storm to stop, and it did; He said, “Peace. Be still!” (see Mark 4:39). I may be deeply troubled, stirred from my depths; Jesus can say “Peace, Be still!” and calm me so I can more perfectly reflect His image in my life.
These words show the calming power of the voice of Ancient Mystery. The Spirit of God can hover over our chaos, calming the storm around us. He can also perfect the mirror of our spirits by smoothing our defects. By helping us be a mirror of stillness we can be a more perfect reflection of the divine.
Living in Mystery
What does it mean to live in the mystery of perfect reflection, becoming a mirror of stillness? It begins with developing the ability to be still. In a modern world where being busy is equated with being valuable, the art of stillness can only be honed with dedication and practice. Relaxation training, meditation, or breathing exercises are strategies to learn stillness. Some people use peaceful music or repeating a calming phrase or prayer. Can you sit and become totally calm in mind, body, and spirit? If you don’t know how to be still, I encourage you to find a path to learning it.
I learned how to be still through relaxation exercises back in the 1980s as part of the Stress Management classes I taught and the Biofeedback training I was doing at a mental health center. There is something deeply restorative about being still. Life doesn’t allow it as a constant condition; there are daily and frequent disturbances to my calmness.
What disturbs your peace? What daily hassles and other storms are you allowing to disturb your calm? Like a boat on a quiet pond, what causes ripples in the surface on which you rest? Schedule interruptions, delays in traffic, unexpected expenses, and conveniences malfunctioning are common jolts to a calm day. Instead of just reacting, allowing your peace to be disturbed, pause and draw in a slow breath. All is well. Inconveniences are not problems. Life is good. Today is good. This moment is good. That “bad” thing might also turn out to be something good.
The mirror of stillness can also be disturbed from below the surface. Consider what might be stirring in your spirit and need to be healed. Unresolved injuries can trigger fear or anger. Lingering grief can stir a peaceful surface into a tumult of sadness. When such buried troubles rise to the surface, recognize them, allow them, and seek healing. Sometimes this means talking to a professional counselor or pastor. It’s normal to be angry, sad, or scared; if these emotions are reactions to something in the past, let someone help you heal the wounds.
Whether it’s a storm around you or a storm within you, surrender to the Lord’s voice saying “Peace! Be still!” As the mirror of your spirit is stilled it can become a more perfect place on which to reflect divine glory. Learn to be still. Pay attention to what disrupts your stillness. Be willing to seek help to heal the inner vortexes that threaten your peace. Perfect reflection is an elusive goal, but our damaged mirrors can be smoothed to better reflect the face of the divine. Learn to be a mirror of stillness.
Connecting with Mystery
Dear Lord of All Mystery, my beautiful Savior, may Your beauty be better reflected in me. Calm the storms around and the turmoil within so I can be a better mirror for your glory. Help my image be transformed into Your image. Remind me to seek Your face – to reflect in mine. I marvel at the reality that whatever You are, I can be, from gentle shepherd to conquering king. Thank You for perfecting me into the reflection of You. Amen.
Notes from Dr. Mac
If you want to do your own investigation of any of the scriptures I use, I suggest you go to Bible Gateway. This free online version of the Bible allows a search of words or phrases in various translations. I encourage you to ponder Genesis 1 verse 2; Mark 4 verse 39, and 2 Corinthians 3 verse 18.
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