Bryan Timothy Mitchell's Blog, page 4

2020: CLEAR VISION

(I wrote this at the start of 2020. Next week, I’ll post my reflections on this year and call it: Hindsight is 2020. If you like this message, you’ll want to subscribe to my newsletter, so you don’t miss the next one.)

Like many of you, I become reflective and hopeful when coming into a new year. I seek purpose and meaning in past, present and future events. Entering 2020 is more than an incremental milestone for me. In fact, it’s more meaningful now than any year, because a message not only waits for us but will constantly beckon to us should we choose to see it.

According to Matthew, Jesus said, ” Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to notice the beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while there is still a beam in your own eye?”

To me, it’s like God knew the world would be plagued by more selfishness now than any time in history. We could debate this but that proves my point. We have Internet trolls, divisive rhetoric, soapbox heroes, political mischief and all kinds of no-good barraging us every day. It’s crazy how things seem to get worse.

Like it or not, what we take in becomes us. It’s in our psyche. We resist, but it still exists. Arguing and trying to inspire change opens doors to long roads of discourse that seemingly take us nowhere. And the reason why is because we are so easily deceived. All of us. And that’s why it’s important to take time to clear our vision before we speak on things we see.

We hear a lot of talk about clandestine operations, the man behind the curtain, conspiracies… Hard to trust anybody these days. For a lot of you, that includes me because I’m just a guy. Most of you don’t know me. But even in all the noise, we can see a clear path that leads to a better state. But we cower from that righteous path as we dance hypnotically towards the sounds of the Pipers’ many tunes.

This year, I’ll shift my focus from the cacophony and drive towards the path where the Truth remains steadfast, unbending and eternal. I pray that you do too. May you remember this every time you see 2020.

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HINDSIGHTS: 2020

If you stare at a negative image for too long then look somewhere else that image stays in your sight. It’s known as negative afterimage. It’s an illusion and affects us all.

Some time during the Christmas break, I fell asleep watching a documentary on Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber. When I woke, my wife told me that his psychologist believed the catalyst to his hatred was when he was hospitalized and isolated as a small child. His parents said he showed little emotion for months after his discharge and would recoil when shown pictures of physicians holding him down as they examined his hives.

Sound familiar? I have no sympathy for the devil but if we don’t understand the past we’re condemned to repeat it.

2020 will impact us for years to come. Anxiety, depression and anger are just some of the mental health challenges that are already impacting billions. Hearts are hardened. Minds are closed. We have so much information and misinformation it’s difficult to figure what’s true. It’s exhausting. Everything’s peppered with patronization and indignation. No wonder there’s so much discord. There’s a simple fix though…

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”—Matthew 7:12

These are not empty words. We are all flawed and can point out each other’s mistakes, but throwing mud at each other isn’t solving anything. How we treat others affects everything especially our own perspectives.

We’ve been staring at the negative too long so when we turn to what’s real our vision is impaired. Our eyes deceive us. We couldn’t see clearly in 2020 because of the sty that limited our perceptions. But we understand history and know where this is going if we don’t start practicing the golden rule. The path to peace will be overgrown with weeds. Lost in the noise.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart; and you will find rest. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” —Matthew 11:25-30.

We are carrying a lot of baggage with us into 2021. We can’t let go of everything. COVID-19 will remain a threat for some time. Political division will widen as representatives chant and dance around the truth as if it were a massive bonfire. They can’t do that and claim to be peacemakers. Peace comes when we let go of the sins that’s scar us. We need to drop them and open our arms to those who think differently than us. We’re all brothers and sisters, made of the same stuff, and know the difference between what is good and evil. We have a capacity to do more good than evil and can change for the better.

As this year ends, remember. People are hurting. Stop slinging mud and start giving love. Offer peace. We don’t need to agree on everything but this is the standard given to us by God. The truth remains true. It’s never tainted and never wavers. It’s forever. Let’s treat each other better, because if we don’t we’ll suffer more in the future.

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