Optical Delusion :: Part 2

Mirage: An optical illusion caused by atmospheric conditions;
something that appears real or possible but is not in fact so.

Have you ever seen a mirage? Most of the time when we hear that word, the optical illusion that comes to mind is the "appearance" of a sheet of water in a desert or on a hot road. No matter what our common-sense brain tells us, we swear that water is there because that is what we see.

I believe we are surrounded by mirages every day. We see what we want to see no matter what our brain tells us.

For example, put yourself in this position. You are having a rotten, stressful morning at work. You pass by someone in the hall and they say, "Hey, how are ya?" And you, who are ready to strangle a co-worker with your phone cord or chuck your computer out the nearest window, respond with a smile, "I'm great, thanks. How about you?" They see we're fine and move on.

When we see someone is fine, but know differently, what do we do? Sometimes it's within our comfort zone to just believe what we see. I heard she's been having problems, but she says she's fine, so she must be.

I recently learned a loved one is suffering, really struggling. I did not know this. When I've asked this person how they are doing, they say "fine," and I let it go. I didn't delve deeper. Instead I stayed in my comfort zone of oblivion.

Can you force someone to give up their mirage? No. Maybe they are in their comfort zone, too, pretending something exists (peace, contentment, happiness) that doesn't. Maybe it is too painful to tell someone what is really happening. Then it becomes real. The shimmering water in the desert disappears and they are left with only dry, hot sand.

I do hope this person is willing to open up to me, let me help them, but I can't count on that. All I can do is pray for them. I guess you could call God the anti-mirage. We don't see Him, but we know He is here. And I have faith He will "show" himself soon to my friend.