Redirection

I have always been fascinated by magic shows where redirection is the key to pulling off the trick.  Either I am too gullible or too unobservant to spot the redirection, because I always get suckered in.  With each new opportunity, I promise myself that this time I will spot the magician’s slight-of-hand, but I’m not doing so well.  In fact, I’m batting .000!

However, I am much better at spotting redirection in political standoffs and with talking media heads.  These days, the contentiousness of the situation should be a warning that a redirect is imminent.  It helps to know both sides of the story, but even if not, we can usually follow certain clues.  Was the original question appropriate and reasonable? Was there animosity or heightened emotion attached to the response or its deflection?  What benefit was there to drastically switch focus rather than responding to the question?  Truly gifted deflectors create alternative scenarios so enticing that the listener follows the rabbit trail down the hole without even realizing it.

Redirection is one of those human mechanisms so effective that in the totality of time, it has never changed much.  All parents have used it with their children and acknowledge that the kids are natural experts.  Left unchecked to become a skilled practice, it ushers in blame, accusation, comparison, and a host of ill will where injury abounds and lies become truth.

Fortunately, Jesus called it out. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴ How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:3-5)  Jesus was pointing out classic redirection that puts the spotlight on another person’s issues, giving the accuser the opportunity to pass on addressing their own.

But what Jesus was saying is even more impactful than a reprimand.  His words are of vital import when two people in a marriage, family, or friendship intentionally or unintentionally wound each other with actions or words.  The subsequent volleys of attack, defense, and counter-attack serve only to further divide and hurt those who actually care about each other.  Jesus is presenting the opportunity for a little used and mostly ignored application of redirection. We must take our eyes off the other person, and ask Jesus, “What do You want me to know about me in this situation?”  His answer to that question will keep us so busy with our issues that we don’t have time to focus on the failings of others.

The fact is that the Lord is always about our growth, and is wonderfully adept at using difficult relational situations to grow us into His likeness. He never forces Himself on us.  Rather, He waits patiently for us to come to Him with the desire for change.  Even in altercations where we believe we are clearly in the right, He is ready to help us understand why the encounter was so personally upsetting; i.e., what personal wounds were stepped upon that inflicted pain and exacerbated our response?  He possesses the knowledge and revelation that brings healing and allows us to respond to others with His grace.  That can have an amazing domino effect.

Jesus uses no slight-of-hand when He redirects us, as He is the Master of unraveling confusion with Truth.  In this world where we actually see darkly (1 Corinthians 13:12), what wonderous joy it is when the redirection is to see through His eyes clearly!