So much of life is about perspective.
Is the glass half-full or half-empty?
We rejoice over the money we make and the raises we get…….until
April 15th comes around.
We live for the weekend……unless we have to work the weekend.
Perspective.
Charles Swindoll tells a story about perspective.
“There are few things worse than living in a city and not
knowing your way around. This happened to us when we lived in San Francisco for
a few months the latter part of 1957. It is easy to get lost. All the streets
on one side of Mission run in one direction—on the diagonal. And all the
streets on the other side of Mission run in the perpendicular. Then you add those
incredible hills and the winding streets and the little tiny signs that should
have been repainted years ago, all the buildings, many of which look alike, and
the fog and the hills and the fog and the trolleys, and you’re apt to get lost.
“Cynthia and I were with some friends atop the new San Francisco
Hilton one year and things changed. The Hilton has over twenty stories. For the
first time the layout of that city fell into place for me. I can’t really
explain why, but it didn’t until then. Off in this direction was the Golden
Gate. Over here was the Bay Bridge. Down here was Fisherman’s Warf, and then
Nob Hill and then China town, and back down south were Daly City and points
down the peninsula. From that perspective, we could see everything at once.” (Swindoll’s
Ultimate Book of Illustrations and Quotes, p.444)
As you look at life and circumstances and problems and
blessings, what perspective do you have? Some people look at life from a
horizontal perspective, while others look from a vertical perspective.
What do I mean?
Glad you asked. When trials and troubles come along, do you
view them from a horizontal perspective, trying to figure out the whys and what ifs of the situation on your own
or with the help of others? Or do you view them from a vertical perspective and
run straight to God for wisdom and comfort?
In the Bible we see excellent examples of both perspectives WITHIN
THE SAME FAMILY when we visit with Job and Mrs. Job. Now, there are some people
who had some serious trials and troubles. They lost everything…their children,
their servants, their livestock, even Mr. Job’s health. Gone….all of it in the
blink of an eye. Incredible, unspeakable suffering.
Consider their perspectives:
Mrs. Job’s horizontal perspective (Job 2:9 NIV) that looked only
at the circumstances before her: “His wife said to him, “Are you still holding on to your
integrity? Curse God and die!”
Mr. Job’s vertical perspective that turned his eyes toward
God for comfort and wisdom:
Job 1:21 (NIV): “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
may the name of the LORD be praised.”
Job 13: 15 (NIV): “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.”
When you and I, in the midst of our
trials and troubles, blessings and joy, are able to turn our eyes heavenward
and trust God’s heart of love for us, we have a vertical perspective.
Your God is present among you, a strong Warrior there to save you. Happy to have you
back, he’ll calm you with his love and delight you with his songs. Zephaniah 3: 17 (The Message)
MEDITATION MOMENT: What situation in your life challenges you in regard to your perspective?
Do you have a vertical perspective or a horizontal perspective concerning this
situation? How might a change in perspective benefit you?
