INSPIRASUNS

Sorry, I was away yesterday friends. I was traveling home and honestly just needed a little downtime after a very busy 10 days 🙂 .

I’ve been thinking quite a bit about things over the past week and this morning as I talked with Father I felt He was giving me thoughts, (as He usually does), to share. You see, as I have reflected back on the past week, a week spent with wonderful people, I realized that our perspective on life drives what we do and how we react to situations that we find ourselves in. If our perspective on life is centered around Father first, others next, and ourselves last, then things tend to come into focus better. If our perspective is that life is a gift, not a slog, this too changes how we deal with situations, as well as what opportunities we see.

Some challenges and situations will come our way. People will be mean to you, people will put themselves first, some will only think of themselves, It’s going to happen and we can’t change that. However, can we use our perspectives to open opportunities to change the hearts of others? Pretty deep question for this Monday morning. I don’t truly know the answer to that question, but I know we can certainly try. When the situation presents itself can we help someone see our perspective, our heart, to make a difference?

There were some situations this past week, times when people didn’t feel welcomed. As usual with social media, things went sour. I appreciate everyone coming to my defense, and reaching out to tell me not to let it get me down. You see, I didn’t take comments personally, I know that the individuals sharing the thoughts, (however unprofessional or ugly they may have been), they are just that, their thoughts and feelings. My perspective is that I can’t own their feelings, however, I can take the basis of what they shared and create the opportunity to be better and to help make the experience better next time. Likewise, I appreciate everyone who stepped up to offer a multitude of suggestions to do just that, make things better. This is the perspective I’m talking about. Rather than wallow in the muck, most just saw the opportunity to lend ideas to help 🙂 .

Twenty-two years ago today we lost 3000 Americans. They got up and went to work that day, boarded a plane to visit family, take a vacation, or participate in a business meeting. They died that day, just because they were living their daily lives. They didn’t deserve to die, especially that way. On 9/11/01 and the days shortly after, I saw the perspectives of many Americans change. Their perspectives changed to understanding how short this thing we call life truly is. Perspectives changed – we saw the good in others. We saw humanity’s best and worst that day and the weeks/months following. Everyone took the opportunity to help each other, we didn’t have to be reminded to just be nice to people. Strangers talked to strangers, and we mourned. We mourned together, united as one body in Christ.

Friends, our perspective of life will drive how we live it. Will we live it filled with it being about us, or will our perspective and mission be about others? We aren’t perfect, I readily step up and say that about myself, however, I will try every day to keep my perspective focused on where it needs to be. Will I stumble, yes of course, however, I know Father will be there to pick me up, brush me off, and tell me to get back at it. Let’s take a hard look at our perspectives, and also the opportunities before us.

On this 22nd anniversary of 9/11, I lift prayers for the families who lost loved ones that day. I lift prayers for our nation, that we may get back to treating each other like we did in the hours, days, and weeks that followed the attacks. We are One Nation Under God, Father expects us to act like it. Perspective friends, perspective.

Philippians 2:3
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.