As I was straightening up the house the other day I decided to wash all of the windows and mirrors. With the constant parade of laundry, dishes, and child-based messes, this is a chore I get around to every couple of months if that. It's a simple thing, and doesn't take that much elbow grease, but it's amazing what a difference it makes. You don't even realize how compromised your view was until you are suddenly staring through a crystal clear window.
It made me think about how we all have metaphorical smudges, things that keep us from seeing the world clearly. It could be anger or resentment, maybe a grudge we are holding. Maybe it's something we have been ignoring or putting off, like a hard conversation, or finally starting that exercise routine, or quitting smoking. Maybe it's our own beliefs about who we are, how we are unworthy or not good enough. Maybe it's the judgements we make about other people, expecting them to be perfect or live up to our own standards that even we fall short of. More than likely, it's a combination of many things that accumulate over time. And just like the dirty windows, after a certain point we stop noticing the smudges, and it becomes the filter through which we see the world. We may not even know what we are missing until we take the time to wipe the windows clean. Who knew the glass could be so clear? The sun could shine so bright?
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