What does perspective mean to you? 

Take a look at the images.  What do you see?  When I look at the first one, I see the word ‘Good’, but if you look closer at the white space between the letters you can make out the word ‘evil’.

The second image it was easy to see the word ‘optical’, but it took me a little while to adjust to see the word ‘illusion’.

 

 

 

 

One of my favorites was the ‘Teach’ with the ‘Learn’ reflection.

 

Your understanding is determined by your perspective.  At first glance you may not realize that there is “more than meets the eye” (just like Transformers!)  It is true of the images, and it is true for life.

I sometimes think of a ladybug on a leaf.  The ladybug is aware of the leaf it is chewing on, the branch the leaf is growing on, and maybe even the tree that the branch is a part of.  The ladybug might possibly be aware of the several trees around also.  If you could ‘zoom out’ a little, you would see that tree is a part of a large forest, and if you zoom out a little farther, you would see that the forest is bordered by an ocean on one side, and miles and miles of open fields on the other.  Do you think that ladybug is aware of much outside of the forest?  Probably not.  I am like that ladybug sometimes.  My perspective is limited to my experiences, my opinions, my line of vision.

 

I have, on several occasions, experienced very difficult times. From my limited perspective, things did not look good.  Frustrating, confusing, hopeless are all words that came to mind.  As difficult as it is sometimes, I have to understand that my perspective is not the proper one.  God is above, and he can see the whole picture.  From his perspective we are right where we need to be.  I don’t understand why I am faced with certain circumstances.  It doesn’t matter that, like the ladybug, all I can see is the tree that I am standing on. What matters is that somewhere beyond my sight is an ocean, or acres and acres of open fields.  Again, there is ‘more than meets the eye.’

Viewing the situation from the proper perspective is the key to making it through certain circumstances.

Isaiah 55:8-9

⁸ “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”  declares the LORD.  ⁹ “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

It does not matter what I can or cannot see from my perspective.  What matters is what God can see from his perspective.

Jer 29:11 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.

What does your perspective look like?  Leave a comment and let me know what you think.