Are You Aware of Your Blind Spots?

I was recently scared—really, really scared. I saw something that so frightened me it threw me back and stopped me cold in my tracks.

What I saw was ugly, threatening and dangerous. It was large, intimidating and daunting. What was it? Spots! I saw spots.

I have seen spots that freaked me out before—age spots … well just one, but it was there, and its presence was horrifying. I have seen other spots too: sore spots, weak spots and soft spots. But none of these shook me like the spots I saw recently: blind spots.

Blind spots don’t show up very often. They hide, camouflaged nicely in their environment. But on this day, the blind spot was there, right out in the open—a visible sighting. I should probably mention that the blind spot I observed wasn’t my own—the reason I was able to see it.

Blind spots by nature are hard to detect when they belong to you. They are much more evident to the onlooker. And that’s what I saw—a blind spot in the life of another, yet clearly observed by friends and family. The scary part, however, was not that there was a blind spot at all—we all have them. No, the truly terrifying part was that what was clearly evident to us was completely invisible to her.

I know spots are sneaky. One minute they are there—visible, touchable, noticeable—and the next minute they fade away, leaving you to wonder if you really saw them or felt them at all. That’s the assignment of spots: Get in and get out as quickly as you can. But on this day, those blind spots were sluggish and stayed around until it was so blatantly obvious something had to be done.

Some friends and I tried to carefully uncover the blind spot and bring it to our friend’s attention. You see, once a blind spot is revealed, it becomes declawed and moves into a new category called “weak spots I am working on.” The goal that day was simply to help someone see that her blind spot was destroying her life, her relationships and her successes.

What happened next was frightening. You have never heard such a clamor. Let’s just say the introduction did not go well. “Owner, this is your blind spot. Blind spot, this is your owner.”

There was definitely no love connection here. The introduction was met with intense rejection, denial and great hostility. It was instantly dismissed as our problem. We were informed that this was our distortion and insanity. No merit was given to this blind spot at all. Instead we were written off for even daring to escort it into her conscience. We were dissed on all fronts—dismissed, disrespected and disbelieved. Had we not quickly gotten out of there, we might have been dismembered as well.

Yes, I was scared. Scared for her and her future of course, but more scared for myself. What are my blind spots like? I shuddered to think. I left that day determined to discover my blind spots. I don’t care how ugly they are or how many they have grown into. I want to see them.

I still feel that way today. I want to know how I am perceived. I want to know what others see that I am blind to. I know it will take the eyes of others to reveal my spots. But I want to know, no matter how vicious they may be. It will take the willingness of a few brave souls to make the introduction, but I am ready. I can only become better for it, more refined and less abrasive.

I can’t live with the notion that I am spot-free, and neither can you. Why not take the challenge and invite a few faithful friends to be on the lookout for your blind spots? Don’t let fear or pride stop you from becoming a better person.

The following Scriptures will help you find blind spots in your life:

• Search light of the Holy Spirit (Ps. 139:23-24, MEV) – “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” 
• Faithful Friends (Prov. 27:6) – “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”
• Humility to hear it (James 1:19, MEV) – “Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”
• Trust to accept it (Prov. 2:1-6, MEV) – “My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.”

Prayer Power for the Week of April 24, 2016

This week, thank the Lord that He loves you too much to leave you the way you are. Ask Him to help you examine your heart and show you what needs to change. Invite Him to create a clean heart and renew a right spirit within you. Thank Him for showing you your blind spots and transforming you into His image. Continue to bless those who have hurt you and pray for those suffering from loss of income, health and loved ones.  Pray that our government leaders would make wise decisions concerning the welfare of our nation and its relationships worldwide. Pray for the upcoming elections, and the protection of our borders, resources and allies (Ps. 139:23-24).