A Robert Burns’ Scots language poem, written in 1786, titled To A Louse, On Seeing One on a Lady’s Bonnet at Church, expresses the importance of seeing the truth of self.

Read more: A Better Way to Live

Burns original

O wad some Pow’r the giftie gie us

to see oursels as ithers see us!

It wad frae mony a blunder free us,

‘An’‘ foolish notion:

Standard English translation

Oh, would some Power the gift give us

To see ourselves as others see us!

It would from many a blunder free us,

And foolish notion:

How often do we really see the truth of ourselves? I’m talking about seeing as God sees. Personally, I feel I must be gobsmacked with reality before I see the need for change. I maintain that can only happen at the Hand of God. Very recently I had one of those experiences; a pretty ugly picture of myself was revealed.

The good news is that once truth is exposed, we can then ask Him to deal with it. It is a better way to live.