humble and contrite - clean your mirror

"'Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?' declares the LORD. 'These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.'" Isaiah 66:2

Today I was reading a portion of Mere Christianity from A Year with C.S. Lewis. Lewis explains how God can only show himself to people to the extent that they can receive, "just as sunlight, though it has no favourites, cannot be reflected in a dusty mirror as clearly as in a clean one".
Frankly became a little scared. Isn't our ability to see God dependent on how well we can see him? I mean, I figure being a 'clean mirror' meant being a good person, and being a good person is largely dependent on how much we see of God. If you're not already clean, God can't show himself to you as much and therefore you can't become clean as well - there's no escape - that stinks!

My next thought was of contradiction. This mentality seems to put the responsibility of becoming 'clean' on the person, not God. The only way to become clean is without God showing himself - through our own efforts. Once we get over the hump and God shows himself, it'll be easier. But... I always heard we are supposed to rely on God for sanctification. We, in and of ourselves, have no capability of making ourselves better, we need to rely on God. We don't sit there passively and bam - we're perfect - but relying on our own strength ultimately results in exhaustion and failure. So... how can C.S. Lewis's idea be right?

My third thought was a recollection of Isaiah 66:2 "These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit" and "I desire mercy, not sacrifice" (Hosea 6:6). Humble and contrite. Mercy. What are these? These are not mans efforts, but neither do they really require a deep knowledge of God to express. It does not take a deep or even devoted knowledge of God to admit that man is limited and can do nothing by himself. This is believe is what is mean by a clean mirror, knowing that God is God and you aren't.
After all, what is humility? It is not belittling yourself, it is knowing your place. And the dust on a mirror has nothing to do with what it reflects, but with itself. As soon as you know who you are, you can accurately reflect other things, including God.

So, do you want to see God? Do you want his favor? Stand in his presence amazed, fall prostrate before the God of the universe and know that you are man (human). Then watch him lift your chin and show you wonder upon wonder.