What’s Your Perspective?
I often look forward to projects around the house, those planned activities that improve the place and give me a chance to do something different. One weekend started with a planned project of replacing old inefficient second story windows with new ones. I borrowed the necessary ladders, jacks and platform, purchased the materials and prepared the tools. Since there was to be saw dust and metal particles flying I decided to use an old pair of glasses instead of the bifocals I wear daily. The prescription was only slightly different and would “work fine” for the construction process. I was set to begin.
After cutting the siding for the first windows, I wisely decided to place the saw on the deck about three feet away instead of on the platform where I could trip on it or easily knock it off. From my vantage point it was a safe and easy three foot step. What I hadn’t anticipated was the difference in the view between the bifocals and my old glasses. I didn’t recognize my shortsightedness. I stepped across the gap to put the saw down and to my great surprise, missed stepping onto the deck. While falling, my arm caught on the deck railing and yanked my shoulder. It held for a few seconds until my foot let loose sending me nine feet down to the concrete pad below. After our trip to the local hospital we found nothing broken, just a damaged rotator cuff and contusion to the left heel. With a cane and sling I was back in business, only in pain and moving a lot slower. I was grateful the injuries were not as bad as they could have been.
The change of glasses changed my perception of the distance in the step. What I thought I saw wasn’t what was actually there. My mind had been programmed to gauge the distance through the bifocals. Believing the lie of what I saw, I acted on it and received the consequences.
This analogy can be applied to our everyday lives.
We act on what we perceive to be true, however is it the truth? It may be close to the truth, like my step, but is it good enough to hit the mark? How many times do we act on our fears and feelings of being rejected? Though we are not
perfect, we are not failures either. God is still working in us.
Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life” and “the truth will set us free”. (John 8:32, 14:6). Our perspective can hinder us from the abundant life that God has for us. If we are going to find the freedom God wants for us in our lives we must learn to walk in the truth whether it looks right or not, feels right or not. We must not walk in our own understanding but in God’s reality even when our circumstances and perspective look different. This gives us the
opportunity to exercise trust and faith in God.
God wants a relationship with each one of us. His greatest commandment is to love Him with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30). We often believe He really doesn’t listen to us or even want us. Our perspective can be that He is far away and doesn’t answer our prayers. It is our own fears that keep us from approaching the throne of heaven. The perception that we feel unacceptable can cause us to not trust Him, keeping us away. His word is clear; “draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble
yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.” (James 4:8-10). God is more concerned about dealing with our character than our comfort. He will walk with us through our mourning, weeping and trials to bring us closer to Him and true freedom. It is not an easy road, but when we keep our eyes on His redeeming power and not on our own suffering, we can have grateful hearts and a peace that is far deeper than the pain of our problems.