On a Sunny Sunday morning, after a sleep in, I decided brunch will do the trick. After arranging a time to meet up with a friend, I hop in my car and am on my way. I get about five minutes down the road when I just so happen to look at my thermometer (which almost never happens) and UH OH it is just about on BOILING.
I figure this isn't good, so in a dramatic fashion pull over to the side of the road, put my hazard lights on, and ring my dad. At this point and time I'm thinking… no sweat they'll come get me, the car will go to the garage and all will be well in the world again.
Disaster strikes, dad is unable to help out. Enter freak out mode, I'm at an absolute loss at what to do, I can't drive anywhere, what if my car bows up and shoot I'm going to miss my brunch plans. Of course in the end I managed to get it sorted and it definitely did not warrant a freak out, purely my lack of car knowledge causing me to assume the worst. However, I was on edge for the rest of the day. That was not the Sunday morning I had planned…
Following this debacle I went to church that evening. Walking in all battered and bruised from my day, I sat down ready to be uplifted… until I discover what we're talking about. A guest speaker was sharing about his struggle with cancer.
He shared about the struggles of unanswered questions and having no control in the situation. He shared about the struggle of knowing he will die, leaving his wife to be widowed. At this point in time I felt like a complete idiot for my over dramatic, tearful, huffing and puffing freak out over my car…
As I sat and listened to the man, I was strangely humbled and encouraged by his absolute strength and dignity towards his relationship with God. This is a man who is literally staring death in its face, yet was standing there talking about obedience to God. This man shed light on some grave circumstances, urging that we use situations to ask God 'HOW' can he use us instead of 'WHY' is this happening. Sometimes we need to be content in not knowing the WHY. A shift in thinking. A grasp of perspective.
I realised then and there, perspective is a beautiful thing.
Perspective is when we opt to see situations in the big picture. Perspective can be freeing. Perspective can help us to see the light of day, when everything is dark.
Now, I'm not suggesting I gained perspective on situations because a man who was dying was sharing of his struggles, no, it was quite the opposite.
I felt a shift in perspective because this man was sharing with such confidence yet a humbling vulnerability. I in no way felt 'sorry' for him, I admired his courage. To be honest, given my recent 'freak outs' I was feeling a tad embarrassed…
I spend a lot of my time thinking about my week, schedules, due dates, lesson plans, dinner plans…. The list goes on. In the moments when this person is busy and that person can't make that date and oh no this is due then, I usually freak out. I usually feel as though the world is crashing down on my shoulders. I usually feel there is no way out.
What this man taught me was this: Perspective can be the way out.
Now I'm not suggesting when earth shattering situations occur you should simply 'hold some perspective', I'm referring to the 'will this make or break your life' situations that could be handled with a greater sense of perspective.
I find the art of perspective incredibly difficult to master, but I so desire its fruit.
So please, let's get some perspective.
Chloe Pryor is a young adult living in Auckland New Zealand. Studying a Bachelor of Dance, in her spare time she teaches young children dance, ballet and jazz, whilst volunteering hours in the youth ministry of her local church. Chloe has a passion for God and serving the local church with a defined heart for women.
Chloe Pryor's previous articles may be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/chloe-pryor.html