Perspective

Life is about perspective. 

One of the most resonant experiences that I have had to teach me about this was my trip to Africa in 1997.  Prior to arriving in Uganda, I prepared myself mentally for the poverty that I would see.  I pictured starving, sick people on the side of the road that I had seen on TV. I pictured the absolute worst circumstances.  When we got there, we certainly witnessed poverty to the extreme.  However, we also gained some perspective while there.  For instance, at first, I saw the mud huts and felt so bad for those living there, but towards the end of the trip, I started to see the houses according to how the people living there saw them-- average living circumstances.  I started to feel less sorry for the Africans and more sorry for myself.  I felt more sorry for my prideful, American self.  We were so spoiled as Americans, yet we constantly worried about money, clothes, about being outwardly beautiful-- all superficial things.  The widows and orphans that I met that lived in those mud homes were some of the most beautiful and rich people I have ever met.  They had such a great love for people and for the more important things in life and I learned that those things are so much more valuable than living in the ridiculously huge-way too spacious- homes we live in here. 

This also makes me think about my little boy.  He has been diagnosed with an eye disease for which there is not a cure and which doctors say will eventually cause total blindness.  I can choose to worry about his future or I can choose to think about the amazing research being done around the world to help with this disease.  I can choose to think about my big God that I serve that cares about even the little, tiny sparrows in the air and who has counted all of the grains of sand on the earth, and what HE WILL do for my son.  I also focus on all of the things that he will be able to accomplish- with or without his vision.

Our perspective in life will determine our life path.  If we are constantly negative, worried, pessimistic, all of those worries, negative and pessimistic thoughts will certainly come to fruition. However, if we are hopeful, faithful and optimistic, the fruit from that thinking will be plentiful in our lives. 

Facecrack

Have you ever noticed that the logo for Facebook is the word "Facebook" in all white. It is beaming and set in a sky blue background. It essentially looks like a cloud in the sky, or could it be like a god in the sky?

They say we spend our money, time, our energy on the things we value the most-or the things we worship. I don't think the master minds over at Facebook would have a problem with the fact that many of us worship the social networking site to a certain extent. 

I personally plan to "worship" Facebook less this year and spend my time and energy on the much more valuable things, activities and people in my life. Of course, no offense to the many friends I have that never contact me in person but often on FB.  I mean no offense, and I love to keep in touch with all of these great people but I do hope to have more personal,  human contact this year.

Who's with me?