Our attitude depends heavily upon our perspective. Thankfully, both are amenable to adjustment; they are mutually reinforcing. One of the quickest ways for me to dig myself into an emotional hole is to lose perspective. The whole attitude-perspective dynamic is fairly elementary; it is its slipperiness that complicates matters. How quickly perspective can slip out of our grasp and slide out of sight before we have a chance to reposition or regain our grip. As I looked out of my living room window earlier today, nature provided me with a fitting visual. Fresh-fallen snow, in all its pristine beauty, tends to not remain that way for very long: snow plows, snowblowers, and shovels see to that. From the warmth and comfort of my home, I appreciated the view that greeted me this morning. Alternately, my husband was otherwise affected; he left work yesterday after a long day, only to have to dig out his car, prior to a hazardous drive home in the wee hours of the morning. He was anything but appreciative of the same white powder I found so enchanting. Similarly, those who depend on snow plowing for income probably cheer for copious amounts of snow much more than those of us who find snow a major inconvenience and potentially harmful to our well-being. Whether you consider the snow a blessing or a curse, and rejoice or grumble accordingly, perspective can be a key determinant to your attitude toward the crystalline substance.
Snow is a relatively insignificant matter to relate to perspective—but it’s in season, so for my purpose today, I consider it apropos. Admittedly, perspective takes on a more critical nature as the stakes become higher. I can bundle up for protection from the winter weather, or simply stay inside. When in danger or crisis, I have much less control over my options for handling the situation. Often the only change I can make is in my perspective: perspective becomes a prime coping mechanism.
In the midst of a tragedy or a perilous situation, or while fighting an emotional or physical battle, perspective is usually the last thing on our mind; we are most likely in survival mode. We want deliverance first, before we consider making room for perspective. At the time we most need to have perspective firmly in place, we feel least able to maintain a fix on it. Caught in a no man’s land of fear, confusion, and uncertainty, we agonize over where to turn for help; here ministry to one another can be life-saving. The single act of coming alongside those who are struggling can be instrumental in steadying them for the next step. When the crisis being faced looms larger than life, impossible for us to see around or through, the gift of another that enables us to regain perspective, is a God-send. It is a glimmer of hope that all is not lost and a source of strength that encourages us not to give up.
Is there a life perspective we can have in place, before all hell breaks loose in our lives, to counteract our tendency to respond with a knee-jerk reaction of panic? As I finished typing out this question, I was tempted to delete it; I think it is an honest question to ask, but a very multifaceted one to answer--one which might be best addressed little by little over time. For starters—and as a closing for today’s post—a day ago, I ran across a very short sentiment in my reading that oddly brought a smile to my face, despite the painful memories evoked on yesterday’s date. Charles Wesley offered, “The den of lions is as safe a place as any.” I thought it a very peculiar, yet powerful perspective. What truth did it contain that resonated so strongly within me? Two realities immediately struck me: For one, as was true in Daniel's case, our lion’s den experiences are not voluntary or sought after, but we inevitably encounter them in one form or another during our lives. Secondly, the necessity of absolute dependence on God is impossible to negate; it isn’t the presence of the lion’s that determines the outcome, but the presence of God.
The power of presence: God’s presence in the middle of trouble, from which we cannot escape or extricate ourselves, and the presence of people, through whom flows the ministry of love and tender care our Father knows we need—delivers perfect help in our time of need. This is Father God’s promise--lion’s den or no lion’s den—and our believer’s confidence: God is with us, Christ is in us, that we may give thanks in all things, according to His will and to the praise of His almighty, all-sufficient name.
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