About Perspective

We all have our own.  It's part of our experience, our heritage and our world-view. It colors our every thought.

So, while we look for guidance from our Bibles and our Sunday sermons and our books and discussions, we need to remember perspective.  We need to remember that as we process information and feelings, there's more going on in our hearts and minds than we might be willing to admit.

My perspective is my map.  Your perspective is your map.  But neither map is the territory!

When we create a god out of our perspective, we have no room for even the attempt to understand the map of another.  Our amygdala kicks in and we defend to the death our opinions and views.  We're right and they're wrong.  Another wall is built. We are no longer learning in productive dialogue because we're at war.

Photo Credit: Third place went to a strange snap of shadows walking dogs down a beach

(Credit: Dronestagram/Qliebin)

God's Waze

I never knew how to fold up a map.  Once used, it just never looked the same.  It immediately became nearly unusable after being exposed to my hands. Such a mess.

But many years ago, AAA found a better way!  They created the TripTik Travel Planner.  This little tool was amazing and worth the price of membership! You submitted (by mail) the information outlining the trip you were planning; Origination point, Waypoints, Destination and Dates. Within a week or so, you would receive an 4"x 8" spiral-bound map red-lining your route.  Start at the top and flip the page when you get to the bottom.  No folding required.  And even better, the return directions were included!

I don't use TripTik Travel Planners anymore.  There is something better called GPS.  And I use it every day.  The app on my phone is called WAZE.  It's amazing - and free!  I have learned to follow the directions given because, it seems, that any time I decide I know best, I find that I do not.

Harder Than You Think, Unfortunately

Once upon a time, I heard a suggestion.  I'm offering this tidbit today while fully admitting to unintended plagiarism since I cannot find the sermon/talk/video or whatever/whoever it was that brought this to my attention.

It's about gratitude.

Before going to sleep every night, remember to give thanks for 3 things that happened during the past 24 hours for which you are grateful.

It starts out easy:

Focus

Solitaire.

I used to play this game with a deck of cards.  Do people use those anymore?  Today our computers are pre-loaded with this game of solitaire and there are quite a few variations now.  Two of my favorites are Free Cell and Pyramid.  They’re called favorites because, well I win a lot!

For quite a while, I watched the score.  Can I beat 16,000 points?  That’s my Free Cell high. Truth be told, I have no idea how or when I did that because of late, I can’t come anywhere near that!

But recently, Microsoft changed the rules a bit.  In Pyramid, the new goal has become tracking the number of cleared boards which thereby increases your game level status.  My game status is currently at Level 14, “Enthusiast”.  OK.  So what?

Until There's No Me Left...

It's time!  It's here!!

I won't be in New Orleans for Fat Tuesday - probably ever.  Who needs to be reminded that I live in Fat Tuesday.  Evidence abounds.

But Lent follows this day of excess and so it's time to be serious. 

Isaiah 40 tells us to prepare a way for the Lord.  I started out listening to the Michael Joncas worship song,  A Voice Cries Out.  I like when I can center one of these talks around music.  It seems to speak to my soul.  I was headed in that direction.

But then, something else got my attention.  There will be lots of Lenten messages today.  Preparation for Easter takes many forms.  Some give up things like chocolate, liquor, eating in restaurants and general fasting.  Some are more called to volunteer.  Some focus on praying or reading the bible or any number of other spiritual disciplines.

But I kept thinking, "Spoken Word".

Amena Brown is a spectacular artist.  When volunteering, I was hoping to make arrangements to bring her to Cincinnati for a fundraiser.  Sadly, it did not work out for so very many reasons.  But I spent a good deal of time on her YouTube channel. I ended up with a lot of 'favorite videos'.

This one spoke to me today.  I think it will be my focus for lent this year.  

Amena Brown:  You