A Shift in Perspective
These days I find myself playing Sudoku. What doesn’t make sense is that I am “Sudokuly Challenged”! The easy ones stump me. My mind gets confused. Headaches come after realizing I have made a mistake and screwed up the whole puzzle. My frustration with this numbers game results in me throwing it down on the floor and moving to the refrigerator to look for something that will bring me comfort.
Why am I putting myself through this agony? Can I blame it on being home more than before due to the virus? Maybe because my schedule is a bit off since I am not going to the office? Or is it because my perspective is just plain wrong?
My son-in-law recently took two pictures of the same cactus but at two different angles. One with the sun shining directly on the Saguaro and the other just on the other side with the sun blocking it. Same cactus. Same time of day. Yet, two distinct and varied looks.
It hit me that that is my problem. These uncertain times in our world have jarred my perspective. Moved my normalcy to uncomfortableness. What this picture forced me to reconsider is how am I looking at this huge elephant (or cactus) in the room. Am I allowing the sun to show me new and exciting ways to minister to those around me or am I succumbing to the dark and hidden parts of this challenge?
Today, I am opening my arms to the guiding light before us. My perspective will change to embrace the words of Brother James, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” (James 1:2). Join me with this new perspective! It might even help my Sudoku challenges!
-David Towne