This is one of those times maybe I should have checked with someone else before I hit the “Publish” button, but frankly I think it fits my theme so comment your complaints if you need to.

This week we’re discussing Blind Spots. We all have them. Misguided thinking, bad decisions and the like. Often times other people can see our blind spots but we either ignore, deny, or dismiss them.

In the Blind Spots sub-category of “Preventable things I wish didn’t happen to me” I offer the following. I neither assume the following to be factual nor fictional; either way they serve as a warning to those of us who don’t always “pay attention.”

Most people have blind spots. I do. You do.

This week on mysilentscream.com we’re looking at a few common blind spots.

The classic blind spot is the justification, “Do as I say, not as I do.” The person or persons believe that the rules should apply to other people.

That must be how, as one woman pointed out, “There are countries that enforce strict ‘puritanical’ laws – no drinking, no parties, no intermingling males and females etc. Yet, members of the ruling class have their lavish parties, lots of alcohol and women etc etc. Is that hypocritical?” 1

“BEEEEEP!” screamed someone’s car horn.
“Was that directed at me?” I asked myself.
It happened again last week.
I had done nothing wrong.
I hate when someone honks their horn at me rudely.

On the other hand, sometimes I’m in the wrong.

More than once, despite my best intentions I try to drive my car into an open traffic lane only to have someone wisely interrupt me with a well-deserved warning, “BEEEEEP!”

I was the rude one. I did not properly consider the possibility of a blind spot.

Blind Spots

When I think of self esteem I tend to lean one of three ways; three paths my thoughts follow.

1. I focus on my own self-interests, because I am selfish.

2. I focus on the my self-reliance, because I see myself in the mirror.

3. I focus on the tension I feel between my secular education and my spiritual life.

The following essay by Randy Alcorn effectively sets my paths straight.

Two Sources of Self-Esteem: Secular & Christian

As my friend Mandy reminded us yesterday, like a dollar that’s seen better days, you’re value never changes.

Though this dollar has been folded and crumpled up, stomped down, torn off and snotted-on, it’s still just as valuable; it’s a dollar.

Even though you may have been unplanned, felt unwanted, been abused or discarded, felt unprotected or abandoned, misrepresented or misunderstood, you’re still just as valuable; you’re a unique, irreplaceable, invaluable, never-gonna-be-repeated human being.

No one could ever offer your unique perspective, you’re unique history, your unique combination of gifts and talents; you are absolutely irreplaceable.

As a well-read person I knew embarrassingly little about Walter Wink before I read this book. He’s a fascinating man. I wish that I had known him personally.

Reading “Just Jesus”, the final book by Walter Wink, was an introduction to a fascinating man who made public his joys and sorrows, successes and “my struggle to become human.” This book is a quick read. There are stories and discourses in short chapters, poems, and prayers.

I loved reading several chapters; my favorites were:

Mysilentscream is here for you most days. Today #mysilentscream is for YOU to help me.

Today my daughter leaves for the Philippines. By the time many of you read this Shannon will be half a planet away.  I’m blessed, thrilled and a little jealous of her. I’m also Shannon’s (“Punka’s”) anxious, unsettled, and already-lonely-for-her dad.

If you’re a praying person please pray for Shannon, her colleagues and her parents who were both just teary-eyed in the living room.

I’ll let Shannon explain more via her supportshannon.com website.

Hello my name is Shannon Volltrauer.

This is Mya and Josh.

If you don’t know Josh, he’s my son and I’m honored to be his dad. If you don’t know Mya, she’s Josh’s dog. (We might look alike, but Mya and I aren’t related.)

Mya

On the fourth anniversary of Taz’s passing, Mya joined our household. The significance of the timing was unintentional; but certainly noteworthy and ironic.

Mya had been homeless.
Mya was placed in foster care.
Mya was posted on Craigslist for adoption.

I told this story a couple years ago, but I’d like to tell it again. If you get one of the eyewitnesses to tell it it’s even better told in person. That said, this is NOT an April Fools story!

For almost thirty years TreeHouse trips have been wonderful times to great fun and building relationships. We listen and talk. We challenge our thinking, and inspire one another to new ways of living.

On one autumn trip we also saw the inexplicable.

“Christ gives us a perfect example to follow. His high standard was not given to frustrate us but to reveal areas in our lives that need improvement. Whenever I study Philippians 2:3–8, I am reminded of the healthy attitude qualities that Jesus possessed.”

He was selfless, secure and submissive, and author John Maxwell challenges us to assess and examine our attitude and the impact of our attitude. Subtitled, “Determine Your Success By Cultivating the Right Attitude” this book challenges readers to become more insightful and incisive leaders.