Are you familiar with the concept of a variable focal length lens? This is more commonly known as a zoom lens. It has the advantage of offering you a wider perspective than a fixed focal length lens. Do you see a spiritual parallel for this? How wide is your spiritual perspective? Can you zoom out to see far-reaching effects of your current actions? The spiritual perspective adds the dimension of time beyond the immediate visual frame. You don’t know what the future will hold, but you do know that your current actions will ripple forward in time.

Can you see your shadow? That would require a point light source and looking in the right direction. It is easier for other people to see your shadow. Can you extend this concept beyond visible light and optics? You could think of your shadow as your unlived life and unresolved issues. You can see these things in other people, how it affects their behavior and how they project their biases and rigid thinking onto others. It is harder to see in yourself. You could conclude from inference that if everyone else has a shadow then you do too.

Do you like it when people confide in you? Do you understand the importance of holding vulnerable admissions of personal weakness in confidence and not offering judgment? Do those who would otherwise approach you hesitate if they know you are a believer and suspect that your commitment to the rules will make you less accepting of them if they have broken them? Should they go to their non-believing friends who will accept them even if they have less to offer them? Do you understand the concept of mercy and justice coming together; of righteousness and peace kissing?

Are you discouraged by the trend you see in human conduct? Are you alarmed at the deterioration of civility into a culture of contempt? It took many years for the development of human thought to embrace the ideas of toleration and freedom of conscience. You should recognize the common humanity you share even with those who disagree with you, and so should everyone else. Do you think the world would be a better place with greater regard for civility and respect for the dignity of every person knowing that they are my handiwork? Why stop there? Why not love your enemies?