The Power of Perspective

It was a busy week last week. The week started off as a real struggle, but gained terrific momentum so that by yesterday, life was relatively easy and I felt back in synch with things. Community does that for me - real spiritual community where one knows that one is supported in more than just words. Sincere people who are lead by a world view that finds value in others and is empathic, truly allows hurting people the space to just be. I was amazed on Tuesday when I was going to a meeting at the local hospital that I ran into a friend in the Lobby. She does not live near to the hospital, but volunteers in the Pastoral Care department. I was coming to discuss some of the issues curently going on in my house, and how it was going to affect my ability to participate in my volunteer work. I was feeling down and was inwardly focused on my troubles. Then I see my friend, first time in a while, and her words to me were, "I was just praying that God would send me some help, and there you come." She started to cry and gave me a big hug. My perspective changed immediately and I sat down and listened to this person's pain and struggles. I gained some much needed perspective and was able to address my challenges from a new and larger viewpoint. The meeting that followed was a good one and I left it with an invitation to lunch on Thursday with a consortium of six churches that call themselves the "Interchurch Community Health Initiative". They work together to leverage each congregation's gifts and people to work on health and wellness issues. The friend that I saw in the Lobby was running it, and when she found out I was coming she wrote me an e-mail. Turns out that her speaker for the meeting had to cancel at the last minute, and she asked if I would be able to fill in. Her note stated simply, "I wonder why I cry." (A change in my perspective.) I attended a wonderful meeting of these pastors and their programs and talked about how we might work together. It sparked my thinking about how to put this kind of group together with other faith communities. Another change in perspective. Perspective. Insight. Attitude adjustment. Whatever the term you choose to apply to these life situations, it is clear to me that much of what is going wrong in the world is due to a lack of perspective - or a very introverted and self-directed one. In contrasdistinction to this world view, I walked into the small and unassuming church where the consortium meeting was being held. On the entry hall wall were hung two large posters (3' x 4'). On these posters were written the expectations of congregants and for congregational leaders. It was clear that when one joined that you wouldn't just come for an hour on Sunday morning and then leave to go on with your life. This was a church that had a clear view of what they were about. They had a "Family Life Center" across the street along with an "Aquatic Center". Additionally, they were instrumental in developing two blocks of low-income apartments that are 100% occupied. Phenomenal leadership, vision and perspective. It made me think of the lack of clarity that so much of organized religion has nowadays. My own church is in desperate need of this kind of perspective and I believe we would benefit from it - as would our greater community! This week, examine your perspective(s). How do you view the world and your place in it? What are you being called to do within your faith community to improve the lot of those less fortunate? How can you look to your faith traditions for guidance and perspective? I look forward to seeing what comes from your discernment. Peace for the journey, Dan