Two For One

“I and The Father are ONE.”

John 10:30

Back when I was in college, I took a photography class. Yep, me, the one who constantly has her thumb featured in every shot.

What do we think we see, as we look through a lens?

Camera or no camera, we see something.

Is it an optical illusion? Is it Truth?

“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he...”

Proverbs 23:7

We are familiar with the sales tactic: two for the price of one.

We are supposed to get all giddy about that.

What is better than one of something, after all?

How about two?

The only possible drawback, perhaps?

Where do we put the extra stuff? We only have so much room here.

(And we already have had to deal with our hoarding ways).

“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he...”

Proverbs 23:7

With overwhelming issues, it all comes down to our hearts, doesn’t it? What’s in them? What has damaged them? What has influenced them?

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Matthew 6:21; Luke 12:34

Therefore, it can be difficult to see one thing as it is, let alone, two things.

Indeed, with so much emphasis on the outward appearance, our inner issues, those demanding, even oppressive drives, can become pushed down, if not ignored altogether. It’s too scary, too painful to address and deal with.  But doing that kind of suppressing and ignoring cannot lead to healing; it can only promote festering.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Psalms 139:23-24

This brings me back to the optical illusion.

Years ago, these two examples were making the rounds on social media.

It was like a Rorschach test. You know. Blots of ink on a page. We are usually in some therapist or counselor’s office, presented with the inkiness.

“What do you see?”

And, depending upon our answer, a decision, a treatment, sometimes a drug was administered. We might be labelled as “emotionally unstable.” We might be labelled as “Dangerous to self or to others.” Maybe, we would be labelled as “normal.”

Maybe.

The two optical illusion tests I saw the most, making the social media rounds, were these.

The first asked:

“What do you see? A rabbit, or a duck?”

Is the image a set of bunny ears, or a beak? Is it a bunny’s eye, or a duck’s eye?

Personally, I see the bunny. Not far from the “eye,” I see what looks like a cute little wiggly bunny nose.

I love little twitchy bunny noses…

I have no idea what it means that I see the bunny, instead of the duck.

Does one result denote a great person, while the other denotes Hannibal Lector?

Unclear. I’m sure there is a matching personality test result out there somewhere for this particular optical illusion.

Moving on to the second one, popular on social media…

This one asks:

“What do you see: the young woman, or the old woman?”

Here is where we can really get into some life perspective stuff. Fears/obsessions with beauty and aging.

Without spoiling it for you too much, what facial features prominently stand out when you look at the image? Is one facial feature what it appears to be?

What about her “eye?” Where is it placed?

The Most High, Himself, takes viewpoints, heavily influenced by our hearts, into consideration.

He knows what’s REALLY going on with them.

And it goes beyond any so-called image.

“‘…For (Elohim) the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but (Elohim) the Lord looks on the heart.’”

1 Samuel 16:7

Our hearts are so important to Him, so vulnerable, He tells us to guard them…

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

Proverbs 4:23

He wants us healed, healthy, and prospering; He wants to bless us…

“Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.”

3 John 1:2

And that leads me back to His Loving, Brilliant, Incomprehensible-to-the-finite-human-mind Nature and Vision.

It goes beyond ink blot tests, bunnies, ducks, young and old women pictures.

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in The Most High, believe also in Me.”

John 14:1

Yahshua.

The Ultimate Optical Illusion?

The Ultimate “Two For One?”

“I and The Father are ONE.”

John 10:30

Now, maybe you’re like me. A little on the fussy and analytical side?

Always picking something apart, trying to figure out, “What does it all mean?”

I have been known to get a little stressed out, in fact, trying to ascertain the two- as- one kind of reality.

I have often, in prayer, uttered the question, at least silently, in my mind…

“Now WHO am I talking to, here?”

Come on. You know you might think that same thing.

Which ONE? Father? Son?

And please don’t get me started on The Holy Spirit!

That’s another epic level of mystery to delve into another time.

As far as Father/Son stuff goes, well, in my finite little mind, I return, again, to the optical illusions.

But, for the purposes of keeping things within the human realm, let’s just concentrate on the young woman/old woman image.

Which woman is in the image?

Both.

This is not to start any kind of back-alley fight about being right or wrong.

Both ladies are there.

It’s the personal vantage point we possess, in terms of which one comes across as stronger.

It’s not about a nose here, a chin there, and, apparently, the big question about how her coat is wrapped around her.

Again, maybe, when we are younger, we identify with and see more of the younger woman.

Maybe, as we age, we see the older version.

Let’s get back to Father and Son.

For me, personally, I have gone through phases when ONE over The Other was more resonate with me. I don’t think I was in spiritual jeopardy coming from that place .

He knows our thoughts, all of them, from afar, anyway (Psalm 139:2).

Thirty years ago, when I had my rededication experience, it was highly featuring The Son: The Savior.

I wrote His Name everywhere in My journals. He was the focal point for me.

And, yeah, within good reason…

“….I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

John 14:6

Scripture translations differ a bit here. He’s referred to as “The Door” (John 10:9), and as “The Gate.”

“So He explained it to them: ‘I tell you the truth, I am The Gate for the sheep.’”

John 10:7

No matter what, however, one thing remains: He is the Entry Point.

And, because He experienced our humanness, He Is Also a Peer.

That Image of The Father/Son picture stood out more. Probably because it NEEDED to.

And then, as life and my faith rolled out further, things shifted more for me.

Having a plethora of “Daddy Issues,” having come from abuse. Not having a healthy, loving relationship with my dad, I started paying more attention to The Father.

Specifically, “Abba,” the Hebrew word for “Daddy.”

I wanted to be “Daddy’s Girl.”

It’s a complicated trek I am still on to this day. I don’t want to mislead you.

But there are times when I want to be “Fathered” or “Daddy-d.”

So, my prayer focus centered more on “The Daddy” aspect of things. I don’t think I’m disrespecting Yahshua. He’s helping me connect more to The Father.

That’s Who He is, and the Entire Reason He lived and died for us and our sinful natures.

Yes, we have, after all, Yahshua, Who’s constantly on our side, pleading our case.  

We need Him to do that.

“Who is He that condemneth? It is (Yahshua Ha-Mashiach) Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, Who is even at the right hand of (The Most High) God, who also maketh intercession for us.”

Romans 8:34

It takes an adjustment, a shift in our thinking. It takes a redirected focus. What are we focusing on?

It takes a first step, even despite our freaked-out fears.

I have, imperfectly, over the years, become more accepting and comfortable with the mystery peace that can encompass the equally mysterious Duality of “Father/Son…”

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

John 14:27

The Father and The Son are not an optical illusion. They are united in love for us.

A love that is beyond our explanations, beyond what we can see.

Nevertheless, The Divine WANTS us to see it, and, by faith, embark on relationship with Who They are.

Father.

Son.

Two For One.

Let’s pray.

ABBA-

I come to You, in The Name of Your Son, My Savior, The Door And The Gate for us all.

You know how I long to be connected with “You Both.”

I long to experience the reality of John 10:30.

Help me to love, to connect, to know, and to understand You “Both” fully.

It’s a mystery beyond my human mind. Forgive and help me as I struggle and doubt.

Forgive me for not seeing and loving You correctly.

Reveal Yourself to me in real ways, Loving ways.

Help me to be united with Who You are.

Thank You.

I don’t understand it all, but I, by faith, accept You, fully taking charge of my life now.

In The Name of Yahshua.

Amen.

Copyright © 2026 by Sheryle Cruse