Ask a photographer what a busted or smudged lens does to the art. I dare you. More than likely, you will be told that there is build-up on the lens, which makes the picture look unpresentable. There are some cases where the photographer’s sight is blocked from his/her subject. If you cannot see properly, chances are you will get a bad shot. This is not what clients pay for.  Lenses are very delicate and expensive. Still, they must be cleaned regularly. 

What if I told you that experiencing life through a broken lens is very similar? The way we perceive situations can be through smudged perspectives and thought processes. We see relationships as terrible because of traumatic experiences. We even see ourselves as unworthy and imposters because one person told us we were not good enough. We deem ourselves insignificant because someone made us feel like less than a human. Seeing life through brokenness and not hope has huge implications. An unclear mind will make up stories worse than those created in Hollywood. A friend of mine said she got badly hurt in a relationship once. Any potential mate that came along after was seen as problematic. She would not give in to love even if stared her in the face. Why? She felt as if she was not worthy to be loved. One bad experience had a domino effect on her love life.

Like lenses, our perspectives are fragile but they are of great worth. Concerning our outlooks, we have many grime and build-up that need to be scrubbed and cleaned regularly. Negative situations have clouded our judgments. Hence, we make snap decisions without weighing our options. Unhealthy practices like these can only make our lives worse if we are not careful. When these intrusive thoughts and troublesome viewpoints pop up in our heads, we need to filter them out. They should have no place in our spaces. They should not have any control over our lives. The only way to filter them out is to be grounded in what is true. We need to clean our perspectives with truth, and we need to make that an “everyday thing.” Truth dispels misconceptions and problematic scenarios quickly. Though having positive thoughts is good, it does not tackle the root of the issues in our minds and hearts. Facing the truth may be difficult. However, it is a powerful cleaning agent against cloudy judgment, and a weapon when there is a war in your mind.

So, I dare you. I dare you to clean the smudges and cracks in your mind with truth. I dare you to speak what is true to yourself and your issues. Tell yourself you are loved and worthy often, and find evidence to support this. Remind yourself you are capable. Write it down. Affirm yourself. You deserve all the flowers too. Surround yourself with a good community. Give yourself grace when you fail, and do not look down on your efforts. I dare you to heal. Heal so that you do not have to see things from the perspective of pain and trauma. There is a bright future for you outside of your broken lens. You deserve to see it. Clearly. Walk into it and live well. Let the Son shine on you.