Perspective
It is inconvenient for government offices to be closed on my day off. My Oklahoma Driver’s License as well as my Oklahoma License plate are a little expired. Don’t rat me out and don’t ask me what a little means. I am committed to resolve those this week. But, I have a list of other things to do today. I’m getting new pillows. I’m making Chicken Tetrazzini. Getting a thank you card for someone I love. Buying a new book, as I’m almost finished with the one I’m reading. Curling my hair backwards instead of forward to see what that looks like. But, it is my day off and I have some thoughts whirling around a little so I’m going to take a minute to have another cup of coffee and write it out.
Christmas was good for my family. Cancer can’t destroy Christmas…to add a line to a poem introduced to our family when my beautiful, funny, wise, missed-every-day Aunt Karla was diagnosed with cancer in 2007. Cancer can change aspects of it, but it can’t destroy the meaning and purpose of Christmas. We had some much needed perspective on our Hope in Christ and the important things in life this year and we scaled back on the stress and hectic-ness?, hectic-ocity?, hectic-atiousness? of the season. Such a relaxed blessed time together. Thanking God for Christmas 2011.
Perspective is key to how we cope with the circumstances in our life. A me-perspective puts everything through the “what does this mean for me” filter. Am I comfortable? Am I happy? Am I getting what I want? Are my expectations being met? Is my dad sick? This perspective can be disappointing if everything isn’t just exactly in its place…all expectations met, all wants acquired, everyone everywhere cooperating with my plan, and can leave us discontent even with what would look like an abundance from the outside. An other-perspective can also be discouraging. Are all my loved ones healthy, happy and satisfied? Even if we put no thought for ourselves and all of our hopes are put for others…Is world peace occurring? Are all the orphans being adopted? Are all the homeless sheltered and fed? Are all the terrorists having a change of heart? We can get overwhelmed. The only perspective that I have found that leaves my heart at peace is the Jesus Christ perspective. His perspective is all inclusive, alone or crowded, freed or enslaved, healthy or ill, wealthy or poor, addicted or clean, praised or persecuted, in joy and in sorrow. He is God. I am not. Trust in the Lord with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding. In all my ways acknowledge him and He will make straight my paths. Proverbs 3:5-6.
Here are a few verses from the Word that gives purpose for us, and perspective on our circumstances. Obviously not an exhaustive list of scriptures, but ones I turn to when I am combating a me-perspective, or feeling a little hopeless with an others-perspective:
For Me: Jeremiah 29:11, Psalm 139:13-16, Proverbs 19:21, Ephesians 2:10, Micah 6:8, 2 Peter 1:3-8 Matthew 28:19-20
For Others: Romans 8:28, Philippians 4:19, Romans 5:3-5, Romans 8:18, John 3:16, Revelation 3:20
We get to choose our perspective, and it takes practice to change one. Philippians 4:8-9. I have an opportunity to remind people of Christ’s perspective of the purpose of our lives in some of their (my) darkest hours: illness, aloneness, depression, divorce, death, suicide. The game-changers. When things are swimming along lovely our “me” or “other” perspectives can serve us well. When things don’t swim along smoothly though…when cancer enters the picture, when a marriage falls apart, when finances are unstable, when you are home for Christmas and someone announces to the store where you are shopping that your biological clock is ticking (true story), when (enter whatever is out of your control here)….only Christ’s perspective on who you are, how you are loved, why you were created, and what eternity holds for us answers every question. Every doubt. Every fear. If we make the purpose of life anything that could be destroyed by…anything, then we should reevaluate our purpose and be set free from the anxiousness of trying to protect or perfect whatever that is. The Word of God gives us an eternal perspective, purpose and Hope. There lies pure joy, not contrived joy. Real peace, not inebriated or delusional peace. Christ changes us by the renewal of our minds. He makes us new. Everyday. If you spend anytime with me you will know that I don’t exhibit that in my life every moment. I can still be ungracious, unsettled, and unpeaceful in moments where I take back my me and other perspective. In moments where God’s sovereignty over my hormonal moods is less apparent. In moments where someone is driving 10mph under the speed limit in the left hand lane on the freeway. In moments where in witnessing arrogance and passive aggression in others I forget I have sin in my own life and am in need of mercy and forgiveness. In moments where I witness my loved ones suffer. Christ’s perspective doesn’t make us perfect, it sets us free from having to be perfect.
Be set free in 2012 through Christ’s perspective on the beauty and purpose for your life. (Too long for a bumper sticker?) He gives peace in all circumstances outside of our control…which includes all circumstances…except maybe my expired driver’s license and tag. I’m responsible for that. Some things we have been given charge or responsibility for. Moses had to go before the Pharaoh. David had to kill Goliath. Paul had to make tents. We still have to pay taxes. And I can still get a ticket for an expired license and tag no matter how close my relationship with Jesus.
Christmas was good for my family. Cancer can’t destroy Christmas…to add a line to a poem introduced to our family when my beautiful, funny, wise, missed-every-day Aunt Karla was diagnosed with cancer in 2007. Cancer can change aspects of it, but it can’t destroy the meaning and purpose of Christmas. We had some much needed perspective on our Hope in Christ and the important things in life this year and we scaled back on the stress and hectic-ness?, hectic-ocity?, hectic-atiousness? of the season. Such a relaxed blessed time together. Thanking God for Christmas 2011.
Perspective is key to how we cope with the circumstances in our life. A me-perspective puts everything through the “what does this mean for me” filter. Am I comfortable? Am I happy? Am I getting what I want? Are my expectations being met? Is my dad sick? This perspective can be disappointing if everything isn’t just exactly in its place…all expectations met, all wants acquired, everyone everywhere cooperating with my plan, and can leave us discontent even with what would look like an abundance from the outside. An other-perspective can also be discouraging. Are all my loved ones healthy, happy and satisfied? Even if we put no thought for ourselves and all of our hopes are put for others…Is world peace occurring? Are all the orphans being adopted? Are all the homeless sheltered and fed? Are all the terrorists having a change of heart? We can get overwhelmed. The only perspective that I have found that leaves my heart at peace is the Jesus Christ perspective. His perspective is all inclusive, alone or crowded, freed or enslaved, healthy or ill, wealthy or poor, addicted or clean, praised or persecuted, in joy and in sorrow. He is God. I am not. Trust in the Lord with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding. In all my ways acknowledge him and He will make straight my paths. Proverbs 3:5-6.
Here are a few verses from the Word that gives purpose for us, and perspective on our circumstances. Obviously not an exhaustive list of scriptures, but ones I turn to when I am combating a me-perspective, or feeling a little hopeless with an others-perspective:
For Me: Jeremiah 29:11, Psalm 139:13-16, Proverbs 19:21, Ephesians 2:10, Micah 6:8, 2 Peter 1:3-8 Matthew 28:19-20
For Others: Romans 8:28, Philippians 4:19, Romans 5:3-5, Romans 8:18, John 3:16, Revelation 3:20
We get to choose our perspective, and it takes practice to change one. Philippians 4:8-9. I have an opportunity to remind people of Christ’s perspective of the purpose of our lives in some of their (my) darkest hours: illness, aloneness, depression, divorce, death, suicide. The game-changers. When things are swimming along lovely our “me” or “other” perspectives can serve us well. When things don’t swim along smoothly though…when cancer enters the picture, when a marriage falls apart, when finances are unstable, when you are home for Christmas and someone announces to the store where you are shopping that your biological clock is ticking (true story), when (enter whatever is out of your control here)….only Christ’s perspective on who you are, how you are loved, why you were created, and what eternity holds for us answers every question. Every doubt. Every fear. If we make the purpose of life anything that could be destroyed by…anything, then we should reevaluate our purpose and be set free from the anxiousness of trying to protect or perfect whatever that is. The Word of God gives us an eternal perspective, purpose and Hope. There lies pure joy, not contrived joy. Real peace, not inebriated or delusional peace. Christ changes us by the renewal of our minds. He makes us new. Everyday. If you spend anytime with me you will know that I don’t exhibit that in my life every moment. I can still be ungracious, unsettled, and unpeaceful in moments where I take back my me and other perspective. In moments where God’s sovereignty over my hormonal moods is less apparent. In moments where someone is driving 10mph under the speed limit in the left hand lane on the freeway. In moments where in witnessing arrogance and passive aggression in others I forget I have sin in my own life and am in need of mercy and forgiveness. In moments where I witness my loved ones suffer. Christ’s perspective doesn’t make us perfect, it sets us free from having to be perfect.
Be set free in 2012 through Christ’s perspective on the beauty and purpose for your life. (Too long for a bumper sticker?) He gives peace in all circumstances outside of our control…which includes all circumstances…except maybe my expired driver’s license and tag. I’m responsible for that. Some things we have been given charge or responsibility for. Moses had to go before the Pharaoh. David had to kill Goliath. Paul had to make tents. We still have to pay taxes. And I can still get a ticket for an expired license and tag no matter how close my relationship with Jesus.
1 comments
You are so good at bringing a tear to my eye and then causing me to chuckle and then I have to wipe my eyes from both so I can continue reading. I don't know you very well, but I love you bunches.
ReplyDeleteMaureen Coates