SPECIFIC BLIND SPOTS

It's time to write for Five Minute Friday and this week's prompt word is SPECIFIC.

It's Saturday morning here and I'm sitting by the river, as I often do on a Saturday morning.  

The Lord has been talking to me about blind spots this morning.  

Most vehicles have blind spots that can cause you to not see who's coming, especially when turning or merging.  

Those blind spots are part of the structure of the vehicle, built into it, not for the purpose of being a blind spot, but as part of the necessary framework of that vehicle.  

It can be dangerous to ignore them.  I've learnt that I need to check my blind spots every single time  I'm driving.  

We have to be intentional about checking them so we don't hurt someone or ourselves.

He said to me this morning, "Are you game to ask Me what your blind spots are?"

Ouch!!

We all have specific blind spots, built into us, for various reasons.    They're part of the framework of who we are - personality, training, belief systems, trauma responses, protection mechanisms, etc.  They are specific to us but not always helpful or necessary.   Sometimes the framework needs reshaping.

I'm currently trying to get my head in a better place about a hurtful situation that has been brewing for a while, but triggered this week by a crisis.

I can see their faults and how it's impacting people, and have a few choice things I'd like to say.   That won't be helpful.   It's not godly wisdom to let rip, as much as that might make me feel better in the moment.

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.     Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.   James 3:17,18

Instead, He wants to deal with MY specific blind spots.   Ouch!! 

Do they have specific blind spots?  Absolutely - and it's causing them to damage people. 

But throwing rocks at their blind spots is not going to change anything for the better - probably just reinforce them.    It's like throwing rocks at the walls of Jericho.  Been there,  done that. 

So, back to my specific blind spots.   

I can't actually see them.   They are my normal.    They are a part of my framework.  

But He can see them - each specific aspect of them, including how they got there.   

Do I want to know?  Nope 

Do I need to know?   Yep - if I want to keep growing and if I want relationships to heal and improve.  

Isn't that what we want? 

Or do we 'need' to be right?  

I've learnt that needing to be right comes at a high cost. 

I guess it's a personal, specific choice to obey Him by staying on the altar of transformation.    It's part of allowing Him to be my Redeemer, to redeem the messes and restore shalom.   

.......    though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.   Hebrews 5:8

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.     And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.  Romans 12:1,2

I don't like altars.  Oh I don't mind sacrificing at the altar (the stuff I'm comfortable sacrificing), but I don't like being the sacrifice, being purified and challenged and shaped.  

He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord An offering in righteousness.   Mal 3:3

So, permission given, Lord, to show me my specific blind spots.  Here we go - yet again.

Stay tuned for the next exciting (not) adventure in Kath's healing journey!  

Into your likeness You transform me

Making me holy, like You're holy

No longer I who live, but Christ Who lives in me 

Now my heart cries "THIS is my Redeemer" 

With my whole life I will give You praise

All the glory to the One Who's worthy

Because of Jesus, I have been changed