Looking in the Mirror

Theme: In time we will understand God’s plan.

Bible Verse: For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. (1 Corinthians 13:12)

Materials Needed:

• Paper

• Pen or pencil

• Square or rectangular mirror (at least 6 inches long)

Bible Lesson

The city of Corinth was famous in the apostle Paul’s time for its production of mirrors. These were polished bronze surfaces, much inferior to modern glass mirrors. The readers of Paul’s letter would readily understand the meaning of a poor reflection, compared to one’s actual appearance. An unclear mirror image provides an excellent comparison to our present and future understanding of God’s plan.

Today we wonder about many things in life:

Why don’t we get our own way?

Why is there sickness and pain?

When will the Lord return?

Someday the answers to such questions will be made crystal clear to us. Meanwhile, we can have confidence that God knows what is best for us. God looks down from above and sees all things from beginning to end.

Science Activity

This activity points out the unusual reflections in a small mirror. Participants are asked to explain what they observe. Various words are printed on paper in capital letters. The words are then reflected in a mirror.

An interesting word pair to begin with is HYMN BOOK. Write this in large letters. Now line up the mirror just above the word, perpendicular to the paper, so you can see both the writing and the reflection. You will find that the word HYMN is upside down while BOOK is unchanged. Why does this happen? Some participants will solve the puzzle quickly; others will not understand the result. Many other words and pictures also give interesting reflections. These examples are especially interesting:

CARBON DIOXIDE

BIKE

RAWHIDE

KITCHEN COOK BOX

LIVE OX

HIDE OR SEEK

You might also have participants write their names and check the reflections. In the end, be sure everyone understands why the reflected words appear as they do. Explain that what was at first a mystery has now become clear. Likewise, God’s ways may be poorly understood at present. In time, however, all our questions will be answered.

Some words have unusual reflections in a mirror.

Science Explanation

Words reflected in the mirror are turned upside down. However, certain letters are shaped so that they are unchanged when inverted. They are symmetric in the vertical direction. These special capital letters are

B, C, D, E, H, I, K, O, X

If lowercase letters are used, the list is reduced to just four:

c, l, o, x

The mirror does not do anything unusual to the words. The letters themselves cause the unusual results.

There are also four numbers that are unchanged when inverted:

1, 3, 8, 0