I find that when God speaks, He often uses multiple sources to do so. Maybe it’s because I’m daft, or maybe He does this with everyone but either way, He uses a multi-media approach. Recently, I heard the tremendous commencement speech from the late David Foster Wallace entitled This is Water (which you can listen to here). In it, he explains how life is all about perspective. The arbitrary events of the day to day can be filtered through ego or empathy. When we grow angry at the wait at the grocery store checkout line, the ego expects the sea to part because life is about me alone. While an empathetic approach sees others who are just as frustrated and perhaps dealing with a greater burden in this life than we can imagine. Our perspective change is a direct action of the will that can liberate us from our default setting.
This was on Wednesday.
On Saturday I watched the smash Broadway show Wicked. In it there is a song about history and how it depends solely on the perspective of the person telling it. Corrupt businessman or philanthropic, great leader or arrogant tyrant? It is all perspective of the victors.
Then again this morning, listening to a sermon from Bill Johnson, he mentioned having to have the discipline to be thankful. It is a spirit that looks past this cage of self, to the grace of God in which our world is soaked in. Christ followers are to see the world from a different perspective.
My default mode sees the world as completely and utterly absurd and meaningless. When asked whether the glass is half full or empty, I respond “what glass?” I feel like God is giving me the choice to see the world as I wish. Yet, this life will only be as meaningless as I recognize, while meaning is the same way. If we create a meaning, regardless if it is true or noble, that perspective change will pour into my countenance. Christ gives us the freedom to craft our own meaning. This is a tremendously frustrating act of grace.
Today, evaluate your perspective. Is the lens you view the world ending in frustration or hope or despondence?
Matt simon blog 