I have a question for you...if I were to walk up to you holding a cube in the palm of my hand and then asked you to describe it. Could you do it?...Sounds easy enough right? What would be your answer? Yes, maybe, no?
The truth is, you could describe most of the cube...the parts that you see. But the only person that could describe the side of the cube covered up by my hand, is the one who lay it there, the one who saw it when it was being put into my hands.
Here's another scenario...what if I held up my hands, palms facing you. Then I started to described to you what I see...'skin, fingers, fingernails'...Your response might be,"Wait! What? I see no fingernails?!"
But I insist that there are fingernails. What do you do? Do you believe me or go by only what you see?
Hard question to answer, yes? What's my point?...Perspective.
Perspective is something that can be easily lost when we find ourselves in situations or circumstances that affect us personally. Maybe someone didn't say hello to us while we were at church. We go home thinking about it and then start to criticize their behavior or defend our own. Pride sets in, which opens a door for a whole slue of misunderstanding. If we had the full perspective, maybe we would have seen that she had just left her baby in the nursery for the first time. With her baby crying, mom hurries away as she tries to remain steadfast in trusting that the teachers can handle it, while all the while fighting off the guilt she feels for leaving her daughter. So with head down, she just tries to get to her seat before she breaks out into tears. Perspective.
Unless we purposefully take the time and effort to see the full perspective of ours and other life's journeys, we may be missing out on more than we can ever imagine. We may end up spending all of our time worrying and fretting over situations of misunderstanding instead of living in the light of truth. Perspective.
In the previous situation, had there been perspective, the offended person, being a mother of five, could have actually been the one to say to the new mom, “They are great with the kids, she will be okay, it will get easier, and this too shall pass.” But because of a lack of perspective, an opportunity to comfort and encourage one of GOD's children was missed.
Perspective allows us to see the full story of every circumstance of life. It brings understanding as it shows us that everyone has a story. It reminds us to be JESUS, to those who daily cross our path, when we otherwise might not be. It can bring compassion, mercy, and grace in times of struggle instead of pride, insecurity, and fear. It assures us that our HEAVENLY FATHER is in control and that HE is trustworthy, even when we cannot see. It tells us that GOD has got 'this', no matter what 'this' is. Hand in hand, it's friend is truth, which says that through faith in CHRIST, we are forgiven and have the ability to do and be all that GOD wants. Perspective.
Remember when Elijah's servant was frightened,
“When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. "Oh, my lord, what shall we do?" the servant asked. 16 "Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." 17 And Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes so he may see." Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”
2Kings 6:15-17 (New American Standard Bible)
What surely looked like to Elisha's servant, a losing battle, suddenly became to him, a victory already won. Why? Perspective.
Read more articles by Melinda Burchfield or search for articles on the same topic or others.
