Who Is an Icon? The Deep Meaning Behind True Influence An icon is much more than just a famous face or a trending personality. The word itself comes from the Greek "eikon," meaning image or likeness, referring to something that represents and embodies deeper truths. True icons don’t merely capture attention; they capture hearts, minds, and imaginations in ways that fundamentally change how people think, act, and live. Throughout history, icons have served as bridges between the ordinary and the extraordinary, the human and the divine, the present moment and eternal significance. They become focal points for aspiration, teaching us not just what to do, but who to become. When you stop discussing Jesus in the abstract and start to claim Him as your icon, everything shifts. It’s no longer an intellectual exercise or a theological debate—it becomes visceral, personal, and revolutionary. I'm not just acknowledging His historical significance or nodding at His theological impor...
Look. Most of us are walking around half-blind. We think we're seeing clearly. But we're not. We're seeing through filters—bias, fear, ego, past wounds. And those filters? They're distorting everything. Perception isn't passive. It's not just some background mental process. It's active. It's a choice. And it's probably the most important skill you'll never be taught in school. The Woman at the Well: A Masterclass in Almost Missed Opportunities John 4 gives us the perfect case study. A Samaritan woman approaches a well. She sees Jesus sitting there. To her? He's just another thirsty Jewish traveler. Nothing special. Nothing worth her time. Then Jesus speaks: "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." (John 4:10) If you knew. That's the pivot point. The moment when perception becomes everything. She didn't know be...