Perspective

Happy Friday Friends!

I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day on this beautiful Friday morning!

Perspective: a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view.

I have been thinking a lot about perspective lately. The way we see things, literally and metaphorically, greatly influences our thoughts, ideas, perceptions, etc. about those things. I do want to be clear that I am not speaking about values & morals - those, I believe, are non-negotiable. They are at the core of who we are and therefore cannot be compromised. Perspectives on the other hand are the way we see things.

I am going to share a little true story to illustrate a shift in, and the power of, perspective. A couple of weeks ago Gehrig was playing in a baseball tournament. My Beautiful Bride gave me all the reasons why she couldn't get up at 5:45 a.m., get out the door by 6:30 a.m. and go with G and I to the field at 7:00 a.m. She in fact went on to tell me that she had so much to do that she wasn't going to be able to go to his games that day. Now, we have had these kinds of conversations in our home before. Unfortunately, my typical response was to be upset, disappointed that she was not coming with me and unbelieving that we would not be cheering on our son together. Praise the Lord, my response this day was different. While I certainly wanted My Girl with me - I always want her with me! - my thoughts this day were different. This day I thought about how blessed I was to have the time with G as we drove to the field to talk about life. This day I thought about how blessed I was to get to watch him play. I love to watch my son play baseball, it genuinely makes my heart happy. I chose this day to focus on how blessed I was to have this experience with my son and I was determined to enjoy every moment of it. My perspective, the way I looked at things or perhaps chose to look at things, had changed. While the details of everything were exactly the same - Gehrig baseball game, me taking Gehrig, Gehrig and I by ourselves at the field - my attitude, my heart, were completely different. My perspective had changed.

Perspective can be a funny thing. We have all looked at pictures that when you look at it one way you see a certain thing and when you look at it another way you see something else. It is amazing what our eyes can see based on what we are looking for/at, based on what we know or understand. Have you ever looked at something one way and then, when you look at it from a different perspective, remarkable beauty emerges? It truly is amazing.

How about when someone shares what they see from their perspective? Has that ever happened to you? When you see something - a person, a thing, a situation - from one perspective and then someone will say, "from my perspective..." and then you see something totally different based on what they share with you? It is amazing what happens when/if we are open to see what another sees. Little kids are great at this...I have learned, seen, changed so much because of the perspective of each of my boys. Blessed...

How do we respond when our perspectives are challenged? Are we willing, open to see things differently? What I have found in my life is that the further things are from touching me, the more willing I am to look at it from a different perspective. Show me a picture...oh yes, I see what you see. A different perspective of someone at work...o.k., I guess you could be right. A different perspective on how to do things in my family...I will think about it. A different perspective on how I see myself...(silence).

This is where I have been walking for the past few weeks. I know Who's I am, I know my values, what I will stand for...the non-negotiables. In the areas that are not non-negotiable, I want to see things from other perspectives. I want to learn, stretch & grow. Herein I believe lies one of the critical keys to becoming all that I was created to become. I can't become all I was created to become however seeing things as I have always seen them, doing what I have always done. Funny, in the last couple of weeks I will suddenly, subconsciously start singing "Open the eyes of my heart Lord." It is a song about perspective. I am aware of God knocking on my heart...

Where do you walk today Friend? Do you know Who's you are, do you know your values, what you will stand for? If not, I would strongly encourage you to determine these things first. If not you will be tossed back and forth by the waves of life. Once these have been determined, I would like to challenge all of us to see things - all things including ourselves - from a different perspective. It is not easy nor will it always be comfortable. In the end however it will complete us, enable us to grow in the fullness of who we were created to become.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family. I will always be willing to help you any way I can.

Have a great day, a wonderful weekend and please cherish your precious families & friends.

Kev