“We have a choice. Seeing things or choosing how we see things from God’s Perspective” could more aptly be the title of this page, but certainly the title of “God’s perspective” does point out where we would like to end up. It is where we need to end up. Let’s play with this concept somewhat.
It goes without saying that all of us go through the day thinking many thoughts, and about many things. We ask ourselves questions. We judge events, along with judging other people. We ask ourselves whether we should do this or do that. But in most cases, perhaps all for some, we don’t bring God into our conversations with ourselves, that is to say, into our thoughts.
Let’s look at a few examples. It’s all fictional. I might say to myself any of the following sentences. 1. I wonder if I should go there. 2. I wonder if I should take that job. 3.I wonder if I should see that person again. I mean, look what that person said about me.
Now let’s say those same sentences again, but this time with the intent of seeing the world through God’s eyes. 1. I wonder if God wants me to go there? 2. Does God want me to have this job? 3. Would God want me to see this person again? ALSO- I wonder how God feels about me not wanting to forgive this person?
See how our perspective changes by simply adding God into the picture? And all that we did was include or integrate God into the very sentences that we use in really talking to ourselves about anything. By doing this simple inclusion, we train ourselves to seeing our world with the largest possible perspective.
It’s quite natural. Consider this: when we are infants and begin to grow as human beings, we are entirely selfish. And this is natural. A study was shown in which a ball is shown to a child under five. The ball is red on one side and blue on the other. I show the ball to the child and say, while showing the ball, “look at this ball, Hon. One side is red (showing the red side) and this side is blue (showing the blue side). “I turn the ball several times, constantly revealing the ball’s two sides, with the two different colors. Now I only show the blue side to the child, with the red side toward me. I now say to the child, “what color am I looking at?” The child will typically say “blue.” This is the color that the child sees. This is the way we are at this age – the only perspective we see is our own
Now as we age, and begin to meet other people, make friends, and date, etc., we grow out of our former perspective and enlarge, as it were, into a perspective that considers the perspective of other people. To be immature, is to stay stuck into a perspective in which the only perspective that can ever matter is mine. Some mental illness, maybe more than you think, is basically an outgrowth of immaturity. To not grow is to die. Anything alive in nature that does not grow, dies. Yes, I can die physically. I can also die spiritually too.
What I am presenting, by choosing to include God into ones’ thought process, is to dynamically help all of us to grow. And we do this by training our minds to see our world with the largest possible perspective – God’s. By use of such a method, our spiritual life can grow dynamically. Try it! See what it does for you. And finally, imagine if Adam and Eve asked God what God thought of either one of them accepting the apple from the serpent. They never did ask God you know. But suppose they did. Do you think that their state of affairs would have turned out differently? Your answer is the aim of this page today. Blessings!
Peace, Fr. Walter
