May 27th, 2020

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Good day to all on this Wednesday
The image above is one of many that are designed to show us how our perspectives impact what we see. In the case above, the place were the persons are standing cause them to see a different number.  As I scan news, social media, and internet reports, the same pattern emerges in relation to how different people are seeing what is going on now.

Some see the current restrictions as a violation of civil liberties and all they can see is the bootheel of a tyrant. Others see ignoring said restrictions as motivated by selfishness and placing the rights of one above the safety of many.  Some look at what has been happening and lament all that has occurred. Others look at what has happened and ask "have we learned anything?"  Some post humor to deal with our current reality; others covey their anger and frustration at every opportunity. Some see storm clouds; others see the beauty in the rain. 

What do we see? Many years ago, an article was published in which the author wrote of his frustration and anger with God when looking at a starving child in a refugee camp. He wrote, "As I watched that child, I screamed 'God why don't you do something?' Then I heard God's reply, 'I have, I sent you'"  We often look around us and are so horrified, frustrated, or enamored with what we see that we forget to ask what that may have to do with us.  Are we witnessing what we see only to report facts. Are we supposed to do something about what we see?  If we are supposed to do something, what are we supposed to be doing?

I have found it easier to turn to purpose statements in the Bible. What I mean by purpose statements is instructions about what we are supposed to be doing.  I think of texts such as Acts 1:8 and 2Corinthians 5:17-20. And I think of Paul's words in 2Corinthians 5:15 [and He died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for Him who for their sake died and was raised.]  All this is to say that those of us who proclaim Jesus as Lord and savior are not to use our energies to communicate our frustrations, our anger, or our agendas. We are to dedicate our energy to proclaim Him.  Imagine if every Christian simply kept proclaiming Jesus instead of the various other things they are using their energies on. How could the world not hear "Jesus" then instead of all the noise that is flooding it.

Food for thought.
Vic