perspective

Our little guy, Josiah, is his own person with his own perspectives. (That’s a pretty astute observation, huh!) His existence is the direct product of me and Carla, but that does not mean he is just like me and/or Carla. In fact, quite often what pleases Carla and I is completely devastating to Josiah. And the opposite is also true!

A few weeks ago Josiah was playing outside in his sand table. Now, he’s been told many, many, many times—MANY TIMES—not to take the sand out of the sand table. It does not belong in the nice, green grass! Well, you’ve already guess it, haven’t you. When we looked outside to check on precious little Josiah, he was not just dumping sand on the grass. No, no. He was joyfully and exuberantly flinging and spreading it everywhere! At least he was being fair, though…every blade got an allotment of sand. Josiah loved it! We did not. Then, when he got in trouble, he was crushed! We were not.

Poor little Josiah just couldn’t see things from his dad’s perspective. Our thoughts and ways are not his thoughts and ways. Hmmm. That sounds familiar. How often do I whine, complain and throw a holy fit because things don’t go my way? How often am I astounded, confused and frustrated because I couldn’t see things from my Dad’s perspective?

Sometimes things seem unpredictable, random or even cruel, but that’s only because we are limited, human beings. Quite frankly, we are horrible judges of our own circumstances. Especially in the moment, things might seem absolutely awful. But isn't it amazing how differently things look after a week, month, year or even a lifetime. Imagine how different it would look with the perspective of eternity!

One experience I often think about is the death of our firstborn, Isaac. He died at 19 weeks gestation and was still born. When I think about the experience of that ordeal, I thank God. I’m serious. I mean, we certainly didn’t want to go through that. We didn’t enjoy a single moment. But God was with us in a very special, powerful and gracious way. We learned and grew enormously through that pain. It wouldn’t have and couldn’t have come any other way. I’m very thankful for that.

As I look back on our first year of church planting, it seems very extreme. In our personal lives we experienced very high highs and very low lows. There didn’t seem to be much consistency. That’s pretty tough for two highly organized people! But that’s only my perspective from right now. I know I’ll see it differently as time passes.

Lately Carla and I have been trying really hard to have a more healthy and Godly perspective. Once again, we’ve been trying to let go. To allow the little things to be little. To not even allow the huge things to overwhelm and crush us. God has always been God. He will always be God. There is nothing that surprises or confuses Him. And we are His beloved kids. What could we possibly have to worry about?!

Of course, it doesn’t seem like that at the time. In the moment, from our human perspective, it seems awful. It looks terrifying and wrong. But we can’t see it all. We don’t have any idea what’s around the corner. We don’t have the foggiest clue of what else is happening around us. God sees it all and knows it all. His perspective is unlimited. Even our strict boundaries of time and space don’t apply to Him. That is amazing!

Even when I don’t see it, I’m okay. Even when I’m freaking out, I’ll trust. Even when I can’t believe, I’m going to believe. As the brilliant poet Steven Curtis Chapman sings:

God is God and I am not.

I can only see a part

of the picture He’s painting.

God is God and I am man.

So I’ll never understand it all.

For only God is God.