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China, Faith, Holiday, Learning lessons

What’s in your window {reflections on reflecting}

Sunday night found me gazing at the moon! I used an exclamation point since my experience of many Moon Festivals has involved few moons. I repeat with joy, I saw the moon. Not only that, I rode home that evening past Tiananmen Square feeling very alive and connected to life and history and family as I basked in moon light. If people had been allowed in the square (it was closed) and I had a cool hat like Mary Tyler Moore, I would have spun around and tossed it in the air.

But what I saw the next morning that has stayed with me this week more than that glorious moon.

This is my tenth year in my apartment and I have stared at the building a stones throw away from me for as many years. It is affectionately named “The Gray Building” for obvious reasons. Yet on Monday morning it was anything but gray.

Though prone to hyperbole {or what may be fondly referred to as enthusiasm}, in all my years in this home, I do not recall ever seeing a reflection in the windows across from my breakfast table.

The windows are there every day, the reflection of the roof above me is not. Now I could go all scientific and explain about the air quality, the angle of the sun, and other variables that go into creating a reflection. I could, but that would ruin the holy moment in which I was simply asked the following:

Amy, what are you reflecting? Does it point to the vivacious colors of the Creator? Is it clear? Are you reflecting something breath taking often or is it only on rare occasions? Does your life point to the source of joy, beauty and hope or is it affectionately called “The Gray Life”? Bottom line: what are you reflecting more, Me or you?

The smog has returned and my morning view is back to being a plain window. But it is not longer a mere window to me, it’s a glance behind the scenes in life and a gentle reminder that I can reflect something as glorious as this view.

What’s been used in daily life to challenge you?

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17 Comments October 3, 2012

About Amy

My name is Amy and I live in the messy middle of life. I have been Redeemed from permanent muck and live with the tension of the Already and Not Yet.

Comments

  1. wanderwithlizzie says

    October 3, 2012 at 10:02 pm

    Awesome thoughts Amy!! I think the one that always challenges me is when I find a small flower blooming out of a crack in the sidewalk. If that small flower can overcome those hardships, alone…then surely I can conquer the hard times while surrounded by amazing people.

    Reply
    • Amy says

      October 4, 2012 at 7:54 am

      Oh I love those kind of flowers too and wonder “how did they survive?”

      Reply
  2. Kristi says

    October 3, 2012 at 10:27 pm

    Doors. I guess I’ve always had a fascination with doors – especially closed or partially open ones. I love photos of doors, windows, and pathways that lead off into the distance. They leave me with a sense of the unknown, mystery, an adventure, or a journey. It reminds me of our Walk with God. We don’t know where the doors, windows, or pathways of our life will lead us. We just know that the One who leads us is Faithful and True.

    Reply
    • Amy says

      October 4, 2012 at 7:55 am

      I love doors too!

      Reply
  3. Mark Allman says

    October 4, 2012 at 3:04 am

    I do not just want to reflect Amy. I think what I want is to emanate from within. (note to Amy.. don’t know if I’ve ever used the word emanate in a sentence before :)) I want whatever people see from me that it comes from the depths of me.. not just something on my exterior and certainly not a facade that I can put on easily sometimes.

    Reply
    • Amy says

      October 4, 2012 at 7:57 am

      Mark, I totally understand this! and concur. Do you think it’s possible to emanate and reflect? I know a mirror or a window can’t, but we are far more complex. I think it’s possible. Thanks for adding to the conversation!

      Reply
      • Mark Allman says

        October 4, 2012 at 10:52 pm

        A good question Amy. We are far more complex and maybe somethings we reflect because we know they are Christ like but have not yet woven them completely in our lives and other things we have sold out to emanate forth. ?

        Reply
  4. Mary Beth says

    October 4, 2012 at 11:03 am

    Oh I like how Mark put it…emanate. Such a good word. Thanks for sharing at WIP how God’s been speaking to you Amy!

    Reply
    • Amy says

      October 4, 2012 at 12:30 pm

      Thanks for hosting it!

      Reply
    • Mark Allman says

      October 4, 2012 at 10:51 pm

      Mary Beth,
      I think in my soul the connotation is when something emanates from a source you are not going to miss it. It if flowing out and you see and can almost feel it. So that our lives would emanate Christ to others.

      Reply
  5. Jeremy Statton says

    October 4, 2012 at 10:33 pm

    I love the idea of reflecting the vivacious colors of the Creator. If only my eyes could see them more. The Message translates Matthew 5 passage about being the light of the world this way, “You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world.” Beautiful.

    Reply
    • Amy says

      October 5, 2012 at 7:39 am

      Thanks Jeremy … I’m glad you commented :)

      Reply
  6. Bristol says

    October 5, 2012 at 12:28 am

    Wee, I love this post, Amy! Perfectly written. Traffic is always a big old challenge for me. It shows me the cracks in my patience and love, for sure!

    Reply
    • Amy says

      October 5, 2012 at 7:39 am

      Ah, traffic, you are speaking a Beijinger’s language!

      Reply
  7. Holly says

    October 12, 2012 at 3:11 am

    Oh my goodness, I LOVED this! Amy, thanks for sharing your thoughts and that glorious picture! I’m mystified by the reflection you found in that window (I don’t ever remember seeing a reflection like that when I stayed there!). But also just really love the lesson you pulled from it. Thank you!

    Reply
  8. Julie says

    April 4, 2014 at 9:36 pm

    “Bottom line: what are you reflecting more, Me or you?” Love this! Glad I found your blog. I have lived in my apartment 7.5 years. Good to know I found another with a similar story…

    Reply
  9. Anne-Marie Heckt says

    April 16, 2014 at 11:46 pm

    I love this Amy! Reminds me of being in Beijing many years ago when I lived in Zhengzhou for a year.
    How the sense of things can change – in a moment. Love the questions, especially: “what are you reflecting? Does it point to the vivacious colors of the Creator? Is it clear?” Thanks for linking up, and for the probing Q’s.

    Reply

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