A New View

My husband & I don't watch much television, but when we do, one of the shows we like to watch is "Southland", a police show based out of LA. Although it's not a "reality show", it's interesting in the sense that every day is something different and it seems to capture the "behind the scenes" of a day in the life of a police officer.

The last couple of episodes leading up to the season finale were pretty intense. Two of the police officers were kidnapped by two drug addicts, held captive, tortured & inevitably one was left for dead while the other managed to get away.

After this traumatizing experience the police officer who made it out was under psychological care, trying to help him deal with what had happened. Needless to say, it didn't help... One day one of his fellow police officers asked him to recap the night, was there anything that he could remember, he said no & she said this: “Try something new, don't be in it, be above it & then tell me if you can see anything new. Like as if you were in a helicopter hovering over, what would you see from the different perspective”

Now, that might not seem too profound or theological to you, but to me, those words instantly pierced my heart and opened my eyes to an entirely different perspective. It made me realize how much of my life is viewed from a limited angle. Not that it’s necessarily wrong, but it doesn’t maximize my view. Instead, it leaves me seeing just what is before me right now, whatever it is in the forefront of life for that moment, that’s what I see.

I realized how important it is to sometimes stand up, step back and look at life from a different perspective. I would imagine if you began to look at some of your own current situations that may be holding you back, stressing you out or over whelming you, from a completely different perspective, you might see a completely different situation.

Sometimes it’s not about just seeing what stands before you, but looking from a distance and seeing “it” in relation to the much bigger picture. This could go for every area of life if you’d be bold enough to apply it.

Here are some common scenarios that many of us deal with on a regular basis.

-       Sick of your co- workers? Unemployment is at an all-time high, be grateful you have a job that so many others search diligently for everyday with no avail.

-       Your children are giving you a hard time? Think of all the women around the word that have lost their little ones or women who cannot bear children at all.

-       Overwhelmed with household responsibilities? Take a trip to the nearest shelter, I wonder what any one of those men or women would do to have what you call your “burden”.

-       Your spouse is getting on your nerves? How about all the men and women who have prematurely and unexpectedly loss their loved one, I bet they would give anything to spend one more day, even the worst of days with their spouse.

-       Bills overwhelming you? How about the fact you have a reason to be billed, more than many people can say. How many people DON’T have running water, a warm home, food on the table, cell phones in their pockets, clothes on their back or even a roof over their head.

The list could literally go on and on, but these are just a few. You can call me dramatic, or you can realize that your biggest “burden” is a blessing that has been inaccurately assessed.

There are people all over the world who would give ANYTHING to have what we have, we are blessed beyond belief and yet we find the burden in everything.

How about we stand up, step back and look at life from a different perspective. Maybe it’s not so bad after all?   

There is an indescribable joy that comes from a grateful heart. Jealousy, envy, bitterness, resentment, anger or ungratefulness is a CANCER to your body and soul. It will make you sick and bring you down.

I wonder what it would look like if we actually practiced, on purpose the art of being grateful.