We were blessed with beautiful weather on a short holiday in Glenorchy recently and found ourselves pausing at this bench. There’s something about a specular reflection that makes you stop and take notice.

To have these beautiful reflections in nature the water needs to be still. It must be smooth and untroubled so the light can come from the source and bounce off at the same angle it hits the lake. It’s not about the lake trying to copy the original vista. All the lake needs to do it be near to the mountains. Near, and still.

Paul, reflecting on Moses’ Mount Sinai experience in Exodus 34, writes to the Corinthians: “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV)

If you want to reflect Jesus to those around you, then it’s not about trying to imitate his perfection. It’s about contemplating His glory. It’s about coming close enough, and being still enough, so that His light can bounce onto you and then out to others. It’s about quieting your soul and stopping long enough to allow the Holy Spirit to do his work of transformation.

A reflection is merely an illusion of the original. Yet, unlike a reflection, we’re actually being transformed into the real deal. The word for transformation in this verse is the same Greek used for Jesus’ transfiguration or, in Romans 12, when we’re exhorted to transform and renew our minds. The closer we are to Jesus, the more we still ourselves in His presence, the more the Holy Spirit does the work of transforming us into his image. Not just reflecting. Transmogrifying. Yes, go look that up!

It’s beyond our comprehension that we don’t have to copy Jesus but could actually become like Him. But quit the striving. Quit the pharisaic rules. It’s not about what you do. The work has already been done. Simply still yourself and draw near. Come speak with the Lord and perhaps you too will be radiant as a result. Others will stop and take notice as they see you bring “out the God-colours in the world” (Matthew 5:14 MSG) and subsequently the glory will go to God.