tanhaRose-coloured Glasses
January 2nd 2007 10:42
The clause “looking at life through rose-coloured glasses” has a wealth of meaning. When we fall in lust with someone and think “This is it” we are exemplifying that clause. A friend of mine recently did that. This man was wonderful – “so handsome, such a great business man, so much fun, and keen on me too.” All those characteristics and unmarried at 35? Some questions arose in my mind. I had a feeling there was a lot of playboy hiding there. So it turned out. First he was jealous and demanding to know the whereabouts of my friend every moment. Then he was accusing her of infidelities (one month into the relationship!) It’s amazing, when people point the finger like that, they have three fingers pointing back at them! He certainly didn’t trust her, and yes, you guessed it, he was also checking out some other chick. He was assessing her by his own behavioural standards!
Fortunately my friend saw the writing on the wall and checked right out immediately. Off came the rose-coloured glasses and she saw reality, and ran for her life.
The reason I’m telling this true story is that those rose-coloured glasses are worn by all of us at one time or another. We have to learn to take them off.
If we can’t do this we’ll be deceived by our own hopes, desires and agendas which colour our view of everything.
How wonderful it would be if we could look for truth unadulterated by our own agenda!
OK How do you recognize an agenda? I’m thinking out loud as I write this.
The Pharisees, in Jesus’ day, could not see who He was because they thought they might lose their control of their society. Lots of us have controlling issues that muddy the way we see things. We want to control our children, our spouse, to fit in with our plan instead of enabling them to develop to their potential. We want to control people we work with instead of building up their capacities or learning what makes them tick. We don’t want there to be God because we are afraid He might expect something of us that we are not prepared to give. So we become agnostic, or atheist, to protect ourselves against a fancied requirement in spite of the fact that all created things are clear evidence of a Creator – evidence we can’t really cover up!
In most of this there is a fear factor operating. “What if I lose control?” is the big question. Yet the cost of hiding the truth behind a fear construct is huge. If I constantly control my spouse or children through fear of not having everything my way, I will certainly alienate them or make their lives very difficult. If I am insensitive to the abilities of others at work through some fear of losing my status, that is certainly going to cost me eventually. If I ignore Jesus because I fear His part in my life, then I’m the loser!
Truth will set us free!
If I listen to my spouse and children and try to serve their best interests I’ll create a happy family. If I understand people at work and help them achieve their goals, I’ll create a great team. If I trust the historical truth about Jesus I’ll find a wonderful store of wisdom for living powerfully, creatively and effectively. (Norman Vincent Peale sure did!)
What have I got to lose by letting go of the control factor? I’ll lose restlessness and gain peace. I’ll lose rose-coloured spectacles and find truth.. I’ll lose the stress factor and gain creativity in relationships. I’ll lose fear and gain joy.
Try it some time.
Fortunately my friend saw the writing on the wall and checked right out immediately. Off came the rose-coloured glasses and she saw reality, and ran for her life.
The reason I’m telling this true story is that those rose-coloured glasses are worn by all of us at one time or another. We have to learn to take them off.
If we can’t do this we’ll be deceived by our own hopes, desires and agendas which colour our view of everything.
How wonderful it would be if we could look for truth unadulterated by our own agenda!
OK How do you recognize an agenda? I’m thinking out loud as I write this.
The Pharisees, in Jesus’ day, could not see who He was because they thought they might lose their control of their society. Lots of us have controlling issues that muddy the way we see things. We want to control our children, our spouse, to fit in with our plan instead of enabling them to develop to their potential. We want to control people we work with instead of building up their capacities or learning what makes them tick. We don’t want there to be God because we are afraid He might expect something of us that we are not prepared to give. So we become agnostic, or atheist, to protect ourselves against a fancied requirement in spite of the fact that all created things are clear evidence of a Creator – evidence we can’t really cover up!
In most of this there is a fear factor operating. “What if I lose control?” is the big question. Yet the cost of hiding the truth behind a fear construct is huge. If I constantly control my spouse or children through fear of not having everything my way, I will certainly alienate them or make their lives very difficult. If I am insensitive to the abilities of others at work through some fear of losing my status, that is certainly going to cost me eventually. If I ignore Jesus because I fear His part in my life, then I’m the loser!
Truth will set us free!
If I listen to my spouse and children and try to serve their best interests I’ll create a happy family. If I understand people at work and help them achieve their goals, I’ll create a great team. If I trust the historical truth about Jesus I’ll find a wonderful store of wisdom for living powerfully, creatively and effectively. (Norman Vincent Peale sure did!)
What have I got to lose by letting go of the control factor? I’ll lose restlessness and gain peace. I’ll lose rose-coloured spectacles and find truth.. I’ll lose the stress factor and gain creativity in relationships. I’ll lose fear and gain joy.
Try it some time.
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