STOP LOOKING AT YOURSELF:
YOU’LL GROW CROOKED
Why are you bending and twising in front of that mirror?
Why do you keep looking behind you
as you want to walk away, walk on just a shiver?
Why do you think a skirt or a swirl could be you?
Why can’t you stop polishing that toe or flicking that dust?
Why is the hemline, the beltline, the neckline
made to speak for you, to say what you must?
Why do you think the outline of your shape is the mainline?
Why, oh, why, don’t you get away from that craze?
Why, oh, why, don’t you look in a river
shining back at you in your Muse’s gaze?
Why not shine back a glance of light for his quiver?
Why keep looking at yourself in plated silver
when you could be watching yourself shine
in another’s eyes so long waiting by that river
where songs outline the shape of your heart in repine?
Let us turn away from our self-examinations to walk towards places where we may see what we look like in the eyes of our Creator!
granbee 
Dec 06, 2011 @ 09:47:41
I agree!
Dec 07, 2011 @ 02:05:15
Thanks so much for participating in my blog today! Most eager to check out your stuff! Very pleased you feel this way!
Dec 07, 2011 @ 03:21:19
Thank you so much for your words of encouragement on my blog.
Dec 07, 2011 @ 03:37:57
Laurie, it is totally my honor to be allowed to participate at your blog. I will eagerly visit often.
Dec 06, 2011 @ 10:40:45
Amen to that, Granbee!
“Why keep looking at yourself in plated silver
when you could be watching yourself shine
in another’s eyes so long waiting by that river
where songs outline the shape of your heart in repine?”
That last line is especially beautiful – thank you!
Dec 07, 2011 @ 02:07:04
Betty, as always, I am deeply grateful for your feedback. You know, I suspect almost anytime we end on a song, it will leave the reader in beauty! Thank you for appreciating that last section: I worked a little extra on that, I must confess.
Dec 06, 2011 @ 10:48:44
I love the images of light and silver, and how they are connected. The mirror is only a DIM reflection… 🙂
Dec 07, 2011 @ 02:08:20
Antigone, thanks for picking up on that light and silver connection. YES, indeedy, a mirror can NEVER be anything other than a DIM reflection, in my observation. Thanks for participating here today. Very helpful feedback.
Dec 07, 2011 @ 05:38:12
It reminds me of Paul talking about how “now we see through a mirror dimly”.
Dec 07, 2011 @ 05:54:57
I like the way you re-stated this scripture. I always thought it was “Now we see through a glass darkly; but then, face to face.” This has always been one of the greatest promises in Scripture for me! Bless you for that reminder.
Dec 07, 2011 @ 06:37:36
I had to look that verse up, because I was afraid that I had misquoted it! (I’ve been known to do that on a number of occasions.) “Mirror dimly” is New American Standard Version, which is the one I use in church. I use NIV at home for personal reading.
Yes, it is heartening to read those words! So many people are demanding of God and desire temporal comforts or specific deliverances, and they get angry and turn away from Him when they don’t receive what they want. Knowing that “His ways are higher than our ways” and that “we see through a mirror dimly” should be comforting. Everytime that I have not received what I wanted or was given a burden I didn’t feel like I should/could carry, there was always a reason behind it. He is always faithful, but it requires faithfulness on our part to look for it.
Some tired ramblings today…sorry 🙂
Dec 08, 2011 @ 02:42:00
NEVER apologize for “rambling” in the Holy Word of God! I love it, and am so excited to find this “mirror” term used in the NASV! I can honestly say I had never heard that verse in that translation. Now I feel the Spirit truly moving through my writing; and YOU, Antigone, have been chosen to provide some confirmation here! Bless you, dear believer and sister!
Dec 06, 2011 @ 11:39:20
This is so cleverly and beautifully written! Your words are all wonderful, but I do like this line:
Why, oh, why, don’t you look in a river
shining back at you in your Muse’s gaze?
Dec 07, 2011 @ 02:10:13
Lauren, what a high honor to have you provide this feedback on the lines regarding the Muse’s gaze! I am MOST humbly grateful. Anytime you tell me I am writing “beatifully and cleverly”, I know I must be on the right track! Thank you!
Dec 08, 2011 @ 06:04:15
Thank you for the encouragement, Granbee!! Glad that the Holy Spirit could use me. I feel as though I can serve and glorify Him most fully through writing than through anything else.
Dec 08, 2011 @ 13:15:38
Antigone, I too feel the Spirit can use me best through writing. Such a joy to have you share that with us here!
Dec 06, 2011 @ 13:13:29
Wonderful post 🙂 Thanks for sharing! God bless Granbee 🙂
Dec 07, 2011 @ 02:11:08
Joyce, God bless YOU, dear reader and writer! So glad you stopped in today and participated with this worthwhile feedback.
Dec 06, 2011 @ 13:33:34
Wise words and put together with such style. I quite enjoy your meter and verse, but always with a deeper message.
Thanks for this one today, I think I’ve been a little too obsessed with the image in the mirror recently. You gave me some much needed prospective.
Dec 07, 2011 @ 02:13:20
Anon, you realize of course that I was preaching at MYSELF in this post! That you gained perspective on your own current mindset is a high compliment indeed for this ol’ lady writer who just wants to touch a small chord in as many people as possible. The “wand” I reach out to touch with bears many scars that serve as helpful pointers, I believe!
Dec 06, 2011 @ 13:39:38
Sorry about that Granbee. I didn’t realize I wasn’t logged in. I’m Anonymous today. 🙂
Still love your stuff.
Dec 07, 2011 @ 02:15:34
Miss Demure, please see my response above to Anon! Wow, now I am truly humbled to find that it was YOU saying you gained perspective from this post! Bless you in all the going outs and comings in of your creative soul this holiday season!
Dec 06, 2011 @ 14:01:02
Hi Granbee! I’m headed for bed, but had promised to stop by for a quick visit. I DO love this one from you–Great reminder about what’s really important! And thanks for pointing us again in the True direction!
Dec 07, 2011 @ 02:17:42
Caddo, what a high honor to receive this comment from you. I give thanks to God that He is allowing me to share some thoughts you find “really important” on this blog! Bless you, dear girl. May your sleeping and your awakening be showered with light and love.
Dec 06, 2011 @ 22:06:52
This reminds me, from a different angle, of Paul’s words, “I do not even judge myself”, II Corinthians I think. Thank you for your words of wise exhortation.
Dec 07, 2011 @ 02:20:36
Oh, Carroll, thank you SO MUCH for this reminder of Paul’s words in II Corinthians, a book I have been overlooking in recent times. No, our job as sheep is never, ever to judge, which includes not judging ourselves. We simply do not have the “credentials” to perform that task, do we? And you have no idea how honored I am for you to consider me as “exhorting”. Some of my closest Christian friends have told me this from time to time, as well.
Dec 08, 2011 @ 00:34:49
Loved this Granbee.. its not what the mirror reflects but also how we see that reflection.. many years ago I seriously did some intense mirror work… And no matter how many times you tell yourself you love yourself… You still have to BELIEIVE.. it….. That is the crunch.. Belief from within.. We all have that ‘light’ within to ‘shine’ back.. We have to believe We are light to begin with..
Love and ‘light’ to you my friend.. 🙂
Dec 08, 2011 @ 02:45:04
Oh, Sue, thanks to you and others in our wonderful writers’ community online, I am receiving so much confirmation to keep writing of spiritual truths in the vein the Creator has mapped out for me and you and many others. I am interested to hear about your work with mirrors many years ago. Thank you so much for this, and all your other MOST helpful comments! You are shining your light back upon many!
Dec 08, 2011 @ 05:53:12
Many years ago Granbee I fell ill… a total nervous breakdown.. I used the book ” You Can Heal Your Life” by Louise Hay… affirmations and looking at yourself in the mirror were therapy.. it worked and I began to heal on many levels, I still need to take a good hard look though as I ask myself… WHO is that Lady? staring back? lol.. but Our reflections often hide behind the looking glass… 😉
Blessings sent your way xx
Dec 08, 2011 @ 13:14:33
Thank you for taking the time for supply more details about your mirror work. Gee, I would never have found healing in mirror gazing; I would have had to at least look into a lake, a pool, a river. Actually, I have done that and been very calmed by doing so. See, I really am an “earth mother”, aren’t: just cannot receive healing and enlightenment from man-made stuff! I never would have guessed you had suffered a nervous breakdown: you share so much spiritual strength and guidance with us out here in blogger land!
Dec 08, 2011 @ 04:06:34
I enjoy your writing so much and the generosity you afford everyone ~ thank you! I have been blessed by following your blog (and your comments!) so I have nominated you for the “Liebster Blog Award.” Please visit my site for details and many blessings to you friend!
Dec 08, 2011 @ 04:24:59
Oh, JessiJ., I am more than honored by your nomination. I have been nominated for this award by at least two other blogging writers who share your esteemed company of wonderful bloggers and writers. I am just TERRIBLE at following through, as I am so immersed in my own writing. But I am determined to set aside time in two days to properly post and thank you! I am so pleased you perceive my comments as generous and my posts as enjoyable.
Dec 08, 2011 @ 04:50:27
Very empowering message written so well! (Almost ironic: the giving in to faith and trusting to a higher power is giving up one power to be truly empowered.)
Dec 08, 2011 @ 13:10:48
Thank you so much for this helpful feedback. I had not fully realized when I wrote this that such issues of empowerment were directly involved. See, I never considered my looking in a mirror in frustration over my “appearance” was a form of empowerment. But I do see your point: we THINK we are empowering ourselves by working on our outward appearance in a mirror!