Have you ever seen the negative for a picture? Back in the dark ages of photography and film processing, it used to be a laborious journey to make a picture. The process included capturing an image on film through a camera lens, developing the film, transposing the negative image and printing on paper or slides the actual picture. Somewhere around my house, I still have some strips of film with negative images, pictures of my kids when they were little.
The tricky part of looking at the negative images on photography film is that it can be difficult to understand what is being shown on the image. For example, on a negative image for a landscape, the sky is dark and the ground, trees, etc. are light. That’s what negatives do, they reverse the dark and light contrasts.
So when I think about the whole reverse-image thing, it makes me wonder if we need to consider some perspective reversal. For example, if I have a victim outlook / perspective, perhaps the negative or reserve of seeing myself as a victim is to consider not only the blessings in my life but also how people are helpful rather than hurtful. Or maybe instead of seeing one’s self as inadequate and falling short, perhaps the reverse could be a more constructive perspective. This perspective could be more affirming with one’s strengths and more gentle with the shortfalls.
I bring this to your attention because I think that we should consider looking through the lens of genuine love rather than seeing through the distortions, deceptions, gaslighting and accusations of the enemy. It’s interesting to think about seeing life through a love lens when we consider what Paul says at the end of 1 Corinthians 13, the chapter in the Bible most well known for its love content.
In 1 Corinthians 13:12, it says “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.” In this verse, maybe Paul was saying that our outlook or perspective is dim and unclear, but when we look in the face of genuine love, Who is God, then we see clearly and we both know and are known in full truth.
I recognize that what I’m saying is kind of heavy and deep, but I’m writing this because I think it’s worth your consideration and some heart-opening reflection.
Here are some questions for you to ponder:
- What could be the positive to your negative?
- Has the enemy lessened the light in your life such that you only see dimly?
- If you look at life through the lens of love, how would your life look different?
- Are there narratives in your thoughts that facilitate a murky or negative outlook? What might such mental narratives sound or look like?
- Have hurts from your past clouded your outlook, such that it’s difficult to see through the lens of love?
I think these questions can be helpful starting points that God could use to help us flip the script, reverse the mental narrative and see light and truth rather than negatives and distortions. May God help us to experience and know genuine love to the core of our essence!
