"In your picture book I'm trying hard to see, Turning endless pages of this tragedy, Sculpting every move you compose a symphony
You plead to everyone, "see the art in me"" - Art in Me, Jars of Clay
I have a bit of "rose colored glasses" syndrome - wanting, willing myself to see the better parts of life. Because of this, I have developed an odd way of not only viewing, but also explaining things. I am quirky - creative - sincere - tenderhearted, a worry-wort and helplessly sentimental. I know who I am. I know how I think. I know my perspective can be risky. I have felt the impacts of the risk. But, I would never take it back. Why? Because living this way has made me brave. I think... or at least has given me the perspective that I should be living this way - without regret - with big steps and big risks and major what ifs and maybes and maybe nots - even if it is just my every day comings and goings.
The impact of your perspective can change everything about where you are and what you're doing, what it looks like to you and what it may feel like to those around you. To live unafraid is the impact. One of my favorite quotes is one by Nelson Mandela - "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
And so I will live - a real life. Out loud. With war wounds and floating hopes, but the wounds won't hold the hopes back, or the faith back, or the sincerity or the care - and never will I give way to fear... From a life perspective, there are plenty of things we are meant to be afraid of, or even cautious about and for good reason, but fear should not prevent us from life. "There is no fear in love. But perfect love casts out fear." 1 John 4:18
... and as a follow up - try this one "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. it always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 I know, I know... it is the cliche sappy wedding passage... but, read the last part again - It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Isn't that how we are meant to live? With uncrushed hopes and untainted trust, always busting through all the crap - always looking for the goodness everywhere, anywhere you can find it. Why not? At the very least the ones who are a part of your life will know you meant every minute of it.
So one day your perspective changes. Maybe its because of a friend or someone you love - maybe its because of someone who has gone ahead of you - maybe, just maybe, they were simply your reminder, that this whole time, it was there in you all along and you just had to find it in yourself. It's there if you go looking for it.
The impact of your perspective can change everything about where you are and what you're doing, what it looks like to you and what it may feel like to those around you. To live unafraid is the impact. One of my favorite quotes is one by Nelson Mandela - "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
And so I will live - a real life. Out loud. With war wounds and floating hopes, but the wounds won't hold the hopes back, or the faith back, or the sincerity or the care - and never will I give way to fear... From a life perspective, there are plenty of things we are meant to be afraid of, or even cautious about and for good reason, but fear should not prevent us from life. "There is no fear in love. But perfect love casts out fear." 1 John 4:18
... and as a follow up - try this one "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. it always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 I know, I know... it is the cliche sappy wedding passage... but, read the last part again - It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Isn't that how we are meant to live? With uncrushed hopes and untainted trust, always busting through all the crap - always looking for the goodness everywhere, anywhere you can find it. Why not? At the very least the ones who are a part of your life will know you meant every minute of it.
So one day your perspective changes. Maybe its because of a friend or someone you love - maybe its because of someone who has gone ahead of you - maybe, just maybe, they were simply your reminder, that this whole time, it was there in you all along and you just had to find it in yourself. It's there if you go looking for it.
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