I don’t know about you, but I love shopping in thrift stores. It’s retail therapy on the cheap. It gives me all sorts of creative inspiration when I spot something I never knew I needed, and it sparks an idea. And, I like to think I’m doing good by spending my money there.
A few years ago I bought a set of beautiful, long-stemmed wine glasses at the Volunteers of America Thrift Store. Their stained glass pattern makes them look unique and just kinda cool. But someone gave up those wine glasses because, honestly, they no longer look “brand new.“ If you look closely you’ll see that the paint in the stained glass design is chipping. It’s actually worn away in some places. And I’m guessing that whoever bought them new thought they now look worn. Maybe they were even embarrassed to use them.
But the funny thing is, I don’t even notice any of that. I think they’re beautiful and unique. I even use them on special occasions. And they got me to thinking that most of the things we are embarrassed about or think that other people notice and judge us for are only in our own mind.
“Perception is projection, and you look in before you look out. As you look in, you choose the guide for seeing, and then you look out and behold his witnesses. This is why you find what you seek.” (CoA.Tx.12.9.8:2-4)
And when it comes to what we think about ourselves, we are the only ones who think we are no longer beautiful and unique wine glasses. But I tell you, Friend, we are.