How we live our lives depends a great deal on our mental attitudes. One person owns a business, while another person in desperation makes plans to rob that business. One person wins the marathon, while another looks at running the race as an insurmountable task to complete. One person stops what they are doing and leans down to pull their neighbor out of the ditch, while another person sees that same person and thinks "Why don't they get up and get out of that ditch?" I would propose that there exist three qualities that encircle a great deal of what goes into the thinking behind each of the scenarios above. We were all made unique, just like a snowflake, there is no two of us exactly the same. Yet, in our differences there are opportunities to mold and shape who we are and in so doing, shape how we will believe and achieve. For the next three weeks we will be looking at the "three P's in a pod" that have the ability to change you and your outlook on life. Perspective, Perseverance, and Prayer and where you fall in the development of each of the three will determine a great deal of how you will respond to adversity, affliction, and life in general. Today we'll be looking at your perspective.
I was listening to a radio broadcast out of Nashville this morning, and the two disc jockeys were sharing that one of the pair had broken her wrist over the last day or so. The DJs joked back and forth about the incident that led to the injury, but the point in the conversation that caught my attention the most is when the injured person's counterpart paused to point out all the things she could still do with only one healthy arm. Of course, his suggestions were for pure entertainment purposes as he offered activities such as filling in for the Queen as she waves to the crowds, raising your hand to volunteer, and still being able to eat an ice cream cone were a few of his comical suggestions, but inside of his comedic relief, I heard the message of perspective in our circumstances being shared.
Half empty, half full, half way up the mountain or still have half of the mountain to climb, we each have our own perspective on how things are fleshing out in our lives. To label yourself as either a pessimist or an optimist is a cut and dry way of creating a persona, but for me it is so much more. Your perspective on the situations and circumstances you endure and overcome is critical to what you do and how well you do it to benefit others in your world.
When it comes to perspective, Lieutenant General Lewis "Chesty" Puller provided a view of how your perspective can impact not only you, but those you live, work, or serve with each day. Puller is a United States Marine legend, stories like the one I am about to share explain why. During the Korean War, Chesty and his troops found themselves completely surrounded by enemy forces. Surrounded by your enemy, where do you place your focus in a situation like that? In that setting you couldn't even say your back was up against the wall, because your enemy was at your front and at your back. My thought would be there was a bleak sense of pending doom on the minds of many of the soldiers that day. How commanding officer Lewis Puller reacted demonstrates how perspective is paramount to success. Puller gathered his men and shared the situation in the following manner. I paraphrase, "Men for days we have been searching for our enemy, we now have intelligence that informs us that the enemy is positioned to our north, to our south, to the east, and to the west", I am sure men's hearts were dropping fast, but then, the leader in the room, Puller shared this perspective, "that's good news, they can't get away now!" What a rallying cry, to hear your leader proclaim victory in the face of what might otherwise appear to be insurmountable odds. Puller and his men survived that harrowing experience, and I have to believe a great deal of it was due to the attitude of "we can do this" that the man leading the charge provided.
Your perspective will cause you to give up and quit, or it will inspire you to forge forward and fight regardless of the adversity you are facing. When Jesus realized that He soon would be arrested, most likely tortured, and then ultimately hung on a cross to die a criminal's death, his humanness felt afraid. Nobody wants to endure pain and suffering, but in this case, Jesus knew it was inevitable. As much as He knew what had to happen, Jesus still asked His father if He could be spared, "Father, if you will, withdraw this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be fulfilled." Luke 22:42. The perspective Jesus provided is one of sacrifice over self. "I don't want to endure this cross, but if it is better for me to suffer, so that others might be saved then so be it." is a trait that characterizes servant leadership, and instills a sense of a much bigger purpose for us and the life we live.
Your perspective matters. It will dictate how you respond in adversity, it will move you to action or it will freeze you in fear. Your perspective will cause you to feel sorry for yourself or it will allow you to realize that someone out there has a much harder life than you and they are still moving forward making the most out of the life they have been given. Your perspective will carry your family forward when the going gets tough, and having the ability to put things in a proper perspective will change the way you feel when you get up each morning that you have been the God given ability to get up! I believe I can move mountains, one spoonful at a time if necessary, but move that mountain I can and I will! God is faithful and He will not leave me alone along the way! Where are you on the perspective spectrum? My prayer is that you will seek God's perspective of hope and an enduring faith that promises "all things work for good ..." Romans 8:28.
Coach Carter
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