Being aware of our own flaws and faults

Blind Spots

There’s always something you can’t see.

You can’t see the wind. You can’t see gravity. And you can’t see God.
But that doesn’t mean those things aren’t there.
When you learned how to drive a car, you learned the importance of being able to see everything that’s around you. Keep your eyes on the road. Check your rear-view mirrors. Be alertly aware of your surroundings. Failure to pay close attention to the spaces around your car can result in disaster.

But there is one region around every car where eyes and mirrors cannot see. It is an area beside and slightly behind your car. Your peripheral vision can’t see it. Your mirrors can’t see it.

These are known as blind spots. And cars aren’t the only things that have them.

As people, we’re good at seeing the faults of the people around us. We can look at our neighbor and see that she is a gossip. It is clear that our co-worker is a complainer. The boss is impatient. The spouse is selfish.

We can look at the people around us and see their flaws as though their faults are tattooed on their foreheads for all the world to see. And the truth is, the world around us can see OUR flaws as though they are tattooed on our foreheads as well.

We see everyone but ourselves

Our eyes simply aren’t in a place where they can see the faces they occupy. And the truth is, our hearts can’t see themselves any better. The fact is, we often can’t see our own flaws.

Sure, none of us are perfect, and most of us would readily acknowledge that we have certain flaws that we are aware of. But what about the blind spots?

Maybe you can see some of your flaws; that you tend to be selfish for example, but can see that you are impatient with others? Everyone else sees it. What about you? Is it a blind spot?

Maybe you know that you struggle with patience, but can you see that you tend to be judgemental? Everyone else can see it as though it were tattooed on your forehead. It’s a blind spot, and it can be harmful.

The question is, do you want the world to associate you with that blind spot; that fault that you have, that everyone sees but you? Moreover, how can we fix a problem we can’t see?

Most people won’t probably tell you what your blind spot is. People are generally more polite than that, and to be sure, it can be a risky proposition for someone to go around pointing out everyone else’s sins. But it’s not our job to right everyone else’s wrongs. The point is, we need to see what’s in our OWN blind spots. So how do we do that?

Quite simply, we look.

In a car, this means leaning forward to get a different view from your rear-view mirror. Or, it means turning your head to look over your shoulder. It requires a little extra effort, and maybe a degree of discomfort.

In life, checking our blind spots means asking others what they see. It means asking a trusted friend what they see to reveal what is in your blind spot. And most of all, it means asking your Creator.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139:23-24

God sees you. ALL of you. He sees you not as you see yourself, but as you really are. He sees your strengths, and He sees your weaknesses. And He sees your blind spots better than anyone. More than that, however, is the fact that God sees your heart. He knows whether you are willing to see your own faults, and whether you are willing to surrender them to Him.

Coming to terms with our own faults is never comfortable. It is not pleasant, but it is necessary. We cannot address a problem we cannot see. So if we truly want to please our Lord, we should desire to both see and surrender our faults.

Do you want the world around you to talk behind your back about that blind spot; that fault that you do not see? Do you want your Lord to wait any longer for you to surrender those “blind spot” faults to Him? Ask your Father to show you your blind spot. He will be more than willing to show you, more than willing to guide you, and more than able to help you resolve the issue.

The question is, are you willing to see it?

Blind spots are a reality of life. We must keep checking them. If the blind spot is clear today, that doesn’t mean it will be clear tomorrow. New problems can creep up on us just like motorcycles beside minivans. If we don’t check our blind spots continually, damage can be done.

There’s always something you can’t see. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t there. We are all sinners, full of faults. Some we can see, and some we can’t. We have blind spots. So practice extra caution. Make the effort to learn what’s lurking in your blind spot. Ask your friends, but most of all, ask your Savior.

And let Him lead you in the way everlasting.

M