One of my friends tried to educate her husband about the blind spots on the right and left sides of a car's front windshield. She explained to him how it's important for the driver to move his head forward or backward, so he doesn't miss a vehicle or pedestrian hidden by the pillars that support the windshield and roof. Her attempt to educate him, however, failed.  He assured her that, unlike the rest of us, he did not have that blind spot.

A few months later, however, he arrived home quite shaken and admitted he had come close to causing a crash. "I almost hit a small car. I didn't see it until the last second."

The vehicle was hidden by the right frame of his front windshield. "I guess you were right," he told his wife. "I really do have that blind spot after all."

This story is a wonderful illustration of our tendency to be deceived and somehow think we are the exception to the rule. This is one of the most common blind spots.

To protect ourselves from this blind spot, there are three strategies we can follow: (1) recognize the tendency to think you're the exception; (2) cultivate a teachable attitude; and (3) see yourself as unique, but not the exception.

Recognize Your Tendency to Think You Are the Exception

We rarely have a balanced view of ourselves or see ourselves as we are.  We usually aren't as good as we think we are or as bad as we think we are. We aren't as talented as we think we are, nor are we as incompetent as we believe. The truth usually lies in the middle. 

Cultivate a Teachable Attitude

Having a teachable attitude means we pray for eyes to see who we really are and ears to hear what we need to hear.  A teachable spirit enables us to listen to others' suggestions and, most importantly, seek God's counsel.

See Yourself as Unique, Not as the Exception

Yes, you are unique and God created you like no other. But, as Paul suggests,"Don't cherish exaggerated ideas of yourself or your importance, but try to have a sane estimate of your capabilities" (Romans 12:3 J.B. Phillips' New Testament). Anthropologist Margaret Mead said it this way: "Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else."

An Unexpected Match 

by Gayle Roper