What was up with the buzz around that blue and black dress last week? My bride saw it as white and gold! We did not get into an argument or anything but she clearly thought I was nuts. Of course I said, “Yes dear” (Marriage 101). My thought was, “How can there be confusion around this? It is blue and black!” The lively discussion, raging debate in some circles, around “the dress” may reflect on the way we get locked into different points of view in life.
Some research provided the clarity needed. It seems the retinal sensors and visual machinery of the brain also play a role in color perception. In identifying color, the brain uses three coordinates – R, G and B, the primary colors red, green and blue. Confusion occurs because the retinal sensors and brains are slightly different for each person and the perception of color can vary. The colors in the dress are not close to pure red, pure green or pure blue but instead are a complex mixture of those colors. Thus there is no clear-cut response from the red, green and blue receptors in the retina. The resultant complex combination of responses causes the colors to be interpreted differently by different individuals. So enjoy the dialogue around ‘The Dress’, or other more relevant topics, with newfound respect for people that view things differently. But have clarity from the manufacturer that the dress is blue and black. (ref:The Science Behind ‘The Dress’-WSJ,2/28)
This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of Light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the Light and will not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the Light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God. – John 3:19-21. In Jesus’ day, many had a point of view that could not adjust to the Light. They were comfortable in the darkness, adamant that their sinful nature could be rationalized, even justified. Sin does not like to be defined as wrong behavior. And us sinners are that way as well. We do not like to be told that following feelings and having a perspective that rationalizes, even justifies our actions is wrong. The reality is that there is a right way to view things and it is through the lens of scripture, the Word of God. Let the Light shine through and the Truth will allow you to have clarity in darkness that continues to invade our lives today.
Tips to Have Clarity:
- Practice the discipline of reading scripture daily;
- Pray in the Spirit on all occasions;
- Study the Word of God and embrace it as absolute truth;
- Be in the Light.
Prayer guide: Lord, I confess my comfort in the darkness that has allowed me to rationalize inappropriate actions and behavior. I have spent too much of my life arguing and justifying a point of view that glorified me. Thank You for blasting through the darkness of my life with Your Light. By Your grace I am able to recalibrate a warped perspective that has dominated my life on things as basic as relationship and as complex as religiosity. Thank You for the Truth of Your Word, for Your Son Jesus the Christ and for the Light that is You in my life. May it be plainly seen that whatever I do from this point on is done through You. Amen.
A faithful father will have clarity in the Light.
