Point of View

            In writing, they call it P.O.V.  -- point of view. In art it’s known as perspective: a study of perception as distance and line of sight cause variation in appearance, depending on where you are. An item seen from a severe angle appears to be misshapen or twisted. The item will seem to grow in size as you look more closely. An old illustration of perspective involved 6 blind men surrounding an elephant. Depending on which part of the animal they touched—the ropy tail, massive flapping ear, snake-like trunk or tree-like leg--each had quite different opinions on the animal’s appearance.  

            Remembering this led me to think about how I go through my day; I am unconsciously defining my experiences along the way, as well as anticipating what lies ahead, good or bad. I realized that sometimes I may concentrate too closely on something, giving it more importance than it deserves or needs, causing me to overlook something else more important. Worry is one outcome of this habit.

            Our individual backgrounds influence our attention toward some elements of our day based on previous encounters and may vary greatly from each other’s experience. Individual differences in viewpoints on some matters probably are unimportant and none are uniquely right or wrong; merely based on each person’s preference.

            Some issues, however, are universal and important to get right; penalties for failure to take them seriously may be severe, so we can’t afford to take our eye off the important and give too much attention on lesser important distractions.  

            Back to perspective: when I worry about an issue, I tend to concentrate on it, examine closely all the “what ifs” and the problem gets bigger, consuming time it doesn’t deserve and becoming a source of dread.  

            But wait--God’s Word says worry can’t change a situation and is a waste of energy; He reminded me that He even provides for each tiny bird. And there are promises in the Bible that nothing happens outside of God’s control and He loves me. He proved that when He sacrificed His Son to pay my sin debt and accept me as His child. 

             Remembering that what I hold closest becomes bigger and has a stronger hold on my attention, I must loosen my grasp on problems and keep my eyes focused on the One who created me and promised never to desert me.  With my all-powerful, loving Father and Solver of problems filling my sight, problems assume their proper (smaller) size, with God standing between them and me.  

            Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us.

           We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”  2 Chronicles 20:12  

          Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, 

          what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?     Matthew 6;25                                                                                      

         I Will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From whence shall my help come?   Psalm 121:1

        My eyes are always on the LORD, for He will free my feet from the mesh.      Psalm 25:15