Perspective


Burt Bacharach once wrote a song called "The World is a Circle" and I remember singing it ias a kid in church.  The lyrics talked about perspective and how - while we might see ourselves a certain way, our perspective is not a definitive truth.  For example:

"And just because you think you're weak, that doesn't mean you've a weak physique - and even if it's partly right, at least it's partially wrong - to someone else you are strong!"

I am thinking about this today because a few days ago my friend Donna sent me a picture of the two of us - taken nearly 30 years ago.  I remember when the picture was taken, thinking "My God, I am fat!" and picking a big - no-waist dress to wear to the wedding we attended.  Now I look at that picture of me - weigning in at about 135 pounds, and think, "I WISH!"

This morning I am also thinking about perspective as it relates to my dad.  If you asked him, he'd tell you that the worst day of his life was the one on which he broke his neck.  And while that was truly an awful day - I think for me, it was also a really good one.

You see there were a lot of factors that worked together that day:

  • Dad landed on his back rather than on his front.
  • He stayed conscious after his fall and was able to call for mom
  • The hospital was located less than 2 miles away and the ambulance was quick to arrive
  • They brought steroids and injected him quickly to prevent his spinal cord from swelling too badly
Now I remember that my family talked to the doctor that day, and he didn't give us much hope - he said the best we might hope for was that one day Dad might be able to drive his on wheel chair van.  He was wrong.  VERY wrong.

Dad has had another 25 years with us.  He was around for his grandchildren Emma and Max to be born.  He has watched all three of his grandkids grow up.  He has seen the eldest graduate from medical school, and the two who weren't even born when the accident happened, run races, do volunteer work, and go to/graduate from college.  He has taken trips to Disney World, and a cruise to the Bahamas.  He has vacationed in Maine, Mackinac Island, Florida, and Hilton Head.  

Dad was there to comfort me as I was going through my divorce, and he was there to "give me away" when I married Jim.

A lot of good life has happened in 25 years, and if he had died, or if the doctor's predictions had come true - things would have been quite different.

I think when we are in a tough spot - we need to remember PERSPECTIVE and that God sees us - He knows what is going on, and He can use all things for good.  When we change the way we think, it changes our perspective, and that can change the way we view and act within the world...

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will." - Romans 12:2
------
If you are enjoying these posts, please consider clicking the FOLLOW button.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Petition for Prayers

Image
Hi there - today is my 400th post and I am wrestling a bit... so I'm asking for your prayers. I started this blog o ver a year ago, convinced it was something God wanted me to do.  It was way out of my comfort zone, and certainly not something I’d have done 10 years before, but  I had hoped that i n some way, it might help people get closer to Him. I knew that once I had finally given my life to God, EVERYTHING in my life changed, and  I desperately wanted people to experience the same JOY and PEACE I have felt since making that decision.   As they say, “I was like a poor beggar telling others where they could find food”. For months, the posts flowed easily and I would feel the Holy Spirit's inspiration…the words on the page practically writing themselves.  However, I'm not sure that is still the case.  Sometimes I feel as if I am struggling to hear His voice, and I honestly don't want to be writing MY thoughts - I want to be sharing HIS. So, I'm going to t...
Read more

The Journey to the Cross (Day 4 - THE LADDER)

Image
In the city of Jerusalem stands a church called  The Church of the Holy Sepulcher.   It has been proposed as the place of both the death and resurrection of Jesus, and it has been a place for pilgrimages since the 4th century. Considered holy, the site is cared for by no less than six denominations including Greek Orthodox, Armenian Apostolic, Roman Catholic, Coptic, Ethiopian and Syriac Orthodox.  As such, it has been carefully parsed out into sections.  And sadly, arguments and violent clashes are not uncommon. Jim visited the church once on a trip with Northridge and told me about "The Immovable Ladder".  Apparently the ladder is a " bizzare outcome of religious stubbornness pushed to extremes. " For " Sometime in the first half of the 18th century, someone placed a ladder up against the wall of the church. No one is sure who he was, or more importantly, to which sect he belonged.  The ladder remains there to this day.  No one dares touch it, l...
Read more

The Journey to the Cross (Day 3 - ONLY JESUS)

Image
Today’s Holy Week post has me thinking about the 12 disciples. ONLY JESUS Can you name Jesus' 12 disciples?  If you've been watching The Chosen or reading your Bible regularly, you might be able to.  However - there are some, who - at least for me, are a bit in the shadows. Sure I know Simon/Peter, and his brother Andrew .  And then there was James and John, the sons of Thunder (or Zebedee to be exact).  There was Matthew, and Thomas, and Judas Iscariot.  And there was Simon the Zealot, and another James...but...but...a nd here is where my mind isn't as good at remembering.   So I Googled it. There was also Philip - a Jewish man from Bethsaida who apparently was the one to tell Nathaniel (another lesser known disciple) that "The One" Moses and the prophets had foretold in the Old Testament, was here.  Following Jesus' death Philip became a missionary in Greece and for his outspoken faith proclaiming Jesus as the Son of God - Philip was stoned and...
Read more