Perspective

 

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

 

Mrs. Jones, an 83-year-old lady, was dressed and ready every morning by 8:00.  Her hair was styled, makeup applied, and she was prepared to greet the day.  Due to her husband’s recent death, arrangements were made for her to move to a retirement home.  Upon arrival, she waited for quite a while for her room to be ready.  When the time came, she was escorted to her new place to live.  The worker was describing her new home when Mrs. Jones responded, “I love it!”  The escort said, “You haven’t seen the room, just wait.”  “That doesn’t matter.  Happiness is something you decide over time.  Whether or not I like my room doesn’t depend on how the furniture is arranged, it depends on how I arrange my mind.  Every day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I will focus on the new day and the happy memories I’ve stored just for this time in my life.”

 

Louisa McKinney had dropped by Dollar Tree to purchase some wrapping paper.  While shopping she became aware of an older gentleman asking an employee to help him pick out a birthday card.  When questioned about who it was for, the man said, “It’s for me.  If I wake up tomorrow, I’ll be 85.”  He further explained, “My wife wanted to get me something, but she’s very sick and cannot leave the house, and I want her to know I got a birthday card from her.”  As the conversation continued, the man talked about his wife, his teenage marriage, serving in the military, and his family.  Instead of pity, Louisa and the people around the older man were given a beautiful picture of love.

 

While home for a visit, a son accompanied his father to the bank, so his dad could transfer some money.  After an hour, and a completed transaction, it was time to go.  On the way home, the son asked his father about looking into internet banking.  He also talked to him about the convenience of shopping online and having groceries and other items delivered to their home.  His father’s response reminded him of keeping things in perspective.  “Since I entered the bank today, I have met four of my friends.  I have chatted a while with the staff who know me very well by now.  This is the company that I need.  I like to get ready and come to the bank.  I have enough time; it is the physical touch that I crave.”  The father then told his son about being sick and how the store owner came and sat by his side and cried with him.  When his wife fell down on her morning walk, the grocer found her and brought her home, because he knew where they lived. The father concluded, “Would I have that ‘human’ touch if everything became online?  I like to know the person I’m dealing with and not just the ‘seller.’  It creates bonds of relationships.”

 

It was time for the end of year 1^st grade parent/teacher conferences, where test scores, benchmarks, and other data are discussed and presented to the parents.  After numerous conferences, the teacher was taken by surprise when one mother responded in a new way before any information was given.  “I don’t worry about all the reading and math; she will get there.  I want to know…how is she, as a person?  Is she kind?  Does she include others?”  Character matters, with or without a checklist.

 

Keeping things in perspective can shed a new light on situations.  Oh, that we would choose to look at life like Jesus does, to see, hear, and respond with His heart, to be His aroma to those we meet, to taste and see that He is good, and speak often of His love and truth.

 

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

Psalm 34:8

 

But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.

Matthew 13:16

 

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

John 13:34-35

 

But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.

2 Corinthians 2:14

Words and Action

This week, the lives and words of two people have given pause for inspiration and reflection that calls for action.  Martin Luther King, Jr. has left a legacy of quotes and actions that remind us that we can do and be better.  And then, Amanda Gorman offers a challenge that we all have a part to play for the peace and betterment of our country.

 

Martin Luther King, Jr.:

 

“I have decided to stick with love.  Hate is too great a burden to bear.”

 

“Use me, God.  Show me how to take who I am, who I want to be, and what I can do, and use it for a purpose greater than myself.”

 

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.  Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

 

“People fail to get along because they fear each other; they don’t know each other; they don’t know each other because they have not communicated with each other.”

 

“We need leaders not in love with money but in love with justice, not in love with publicity but in love with humanity.”

 

“If you can’t fly, then run.  If you can’t run, then walk.  If you can’t walk, then crawl.  But whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.”

 

“The time is always right to do what is right.”

 

“O God…help us walk together, pray together, sing together, and live together until that day when all God’s children, Black, White, Red, and Yellow, will rejoice in one common band of humanity in the kingdom of our Lord.  Amen.”

 

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?”

 

An anonymous person posted: “May the MLK quote you post today align with the words & actions you choose over the next 364 days.”

 

Amanda Gorman, 22 years of age and our nation’s first National Youth Poet Laureate, was invited to write and read an original poem for President Biden’s inauguration on January 20, 2021.  Last week, Amanda Gorman told Ron Charles, of the Washington Post, “My hope is that my poem will represent a moment of unity for our country, that with my words I’ll be able to speak to a new chapter and era for our nation.”  

 

Some excerpts from:

“The Hill We Climb”

 

We’ve learned that quiet isn’t always peace

And the norms and notions

of what just is

Isn’t always just-ice

 

We are striving to forge a union with purpose

To compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters and

conditions of man

And so we lift our gazes not to what stands between us

but what stands before us

We close the divide because we know, to put our future first,

we must first put our differences aside

We lay down our arms

so we can reach out our arms

to one another

We seek harm to none and harmony for all

 

If we’re to live up to our own time

Then victory won’t lie in the blade

But in all the bridges we’ve made

That is the promise to glade

The hill we climb

If only we dare

 

But one thing is certain:

If we merge mercy with might,

and might with right,

then love becomes our legacy

and change our children’s birthright

So let us leave behind a country

Better than the one we were left with

 

When day comes we step out of the shade,

aflame and unafraid

The new dawn blooms as we free it

For there is always light,

if only we’re brave enough to see it

If only we’re brave enough to be it

 

After the inauguration, when interviewed by Anderson Cooper, Amanda said that she was energized to write a poem that expressed a message of hope, unity, and healing.  She knew that was what our country needed to hear, as well as the world.  Mission accomplished Ms. Gorman.  Now may our words and actions help do the same.

 

 

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Matthew 5:9

 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23

 

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than your selves.

Philippians 2:3

 

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Ephesians 4:31-32

 

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.

1 Peter 4:10