“Escape the Mirrorverse” – A United Church of Christ StillSpeaking Daily Devotional by The Rev. Kaji Douša

But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. – James 1:22-24 (NRSV)

One fateful day, I had my first (and only) instance of claustrophobia. I found myself trapped in a stifling corridor inside Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty castle, certainly not expecting a time of spiritual insight. The narrow halls, the lack of air, the crowded silence all built up to one final scene: a mirror on the wall, inviting me to imagine myself in the story. 

But all I could think was, “I need to get out of here.” I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t stay. I had to move. 

That was, maybe, my biggest moment not of reflection but of decision. 

It’s easy to spend time in front of the mirror. In the era of front-facing cameras and filters, we’ve made entire industries out of staring at ourselves. But James warns: stay too long in that reflection and you may walk away having forgotten who you really are. 

The mirror may not lie, but it doesn’t tell the whole truth, either. It can neither show you your purpose nor confirm your belovedness. It might reflect your face, but not your faith. 

In that claustrophobic Disney castle hallway, it wasn’t the mirror’s magic that moved me—it was the decision to step past it. To leave the fantasy behind and get my breath back. James invites us to do the same.  

Look once, if you must. But don’t stay there.  

Because faith isn’t found in the image. It’s found in the doing. 

Prayer

God, help me to know what the mirror can’t show. When I forget who I am, remind me whose I am. Amen.