Perspective

Last week as we were driving home from Salt Lake City an interesting subject regarding the idea of perspective presented itself. To set the scene, the weather was beautifully clear as we left Wendover heading for the Pequops. Eventually, off to our right stood Pilot Peak, appearing in, seemingly, solitary splendor, looking like a volcanic sentinel. In fact, during pioneer days, Pilot Peak was a trail landmark, but it was never volcanic.     

Courtesy of Brian Diehl

The light was so perfect that day, my photographer son stopped the car and took a picture. When we were on the road again, he remarked something to the effect, “It’s fascinating how Pilot Peak just looks like another peak in the Peqop Range from the back side.”

Another example of perspective was brought to my attention with the jigsaw puzzle presently spread out on a card table to one side of my kitchen. It’s slightly larger than the table so my older son (the cardboard king) fashioned a cardboard topper so we could safely assemble the puzzle without pieces dropping off the ends of the earth (namely, the card table).

It has been a Christmas tradition for many years to put together a jigsaw puzzle during the holidays and my brother sent us a dilly of a present with this puzzle. When we turned over all 1500 puzzle pieces with their disconcerting hues of brown, green and blue, gray and black, our perspective caused us to be overwhelmed with a tinge of      discouragement at the seeming possibility 

of ever assembling that puzzle.

Now after a month’s time, with the help of several friends, my perspective on The Puzzle has changed. It’s fascinating to see how those different hues of brown, greens, and blues have taken shape to form the total picture. Not that we’re finished, but completion now seems possible.

It’s probably age on my part, but I can see (no pun intended) how perspective can flavor our impressions/reactions to any challenge that comes along in our lives. It seems to be directed by positive or negative attitudes toward the life bumps that raise their as we travel along.

Consider adjusting perspective in a “challenging”--use any adjectives that fit hereJ -- situation. Remember, the “front” side of the mountain looks completely different from the back side, and the pile of puzzle pieces can “morph” into a lovely picture. I like the example of looking at a beautiful piece of embroidery work and comparing it to our lives. When we look at the under side of the handwork, we see a maze of threads running helter-skelter, including plenty of knots. When the piece is turned over, an artistic piece of lovely colors blend to create a pleasing picture.

Using that idea and comparing it to God, the Creator, Who sees through all the knots and hairpin curves in His children’s lives and sees them fit into a beautiful picture at completion of our life, gives me hope for my personal perspective.  Isaiah reminds us that God’s ways and thoughts far surpass ours and Jeremiah encourages us that God has a plan for our lives one of hope and not harm.

So take heart and double check your perspective.