Blog: Max Dawson
September 19, 2016
It is important in life that we keep things in perspective, and that we keep our priorities right (). Sometimes we are irritated by things that have little meaning in the big picture of life.
What kinds of things irritate you? Pokey drivers? Poor service at a restaurant? Long lines at the grocery store? All of us probably have things that can easily upset us.
But think of the things just mentioned–cars, restaurants and grocery stores. While pokey drivers can be irritating, think of all the people in the world who have no automobiles. There are millions in Africa who have never eaten in a restaurant. And millions have never been in a long line at Kroger because they have never been in a grocery at all.
We have affluence in America that the much of the rest of the world does not have. The prosperity that gives us autos, restaurants and upscale stores should not be taken for granted. And it should not be ours to complain about the inconveniences we sometimes experience with our blessings.
Perspective. Webster says the word means “a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view.” From our point of view, the things mentioned above can be irritating. But from another person’s point of view, they might be most happy to be in any of those situations.
THE FINAL WORD
Lee and I recently had a personal experience that pointed up an extreme difference in perspective–in how we look at things. We were on a preaching trip to Ohio. We were driving Lee’s car across Kentucky when a rock was kicked up from a truck, striking the windshield. Lee had recently given her old Chevy to our granddaughter, Michaela. Lee replaced it with a Volkswagen. We had the VW for fewer than a thousand miles when the rock put a major chip on the windshield.
Irritating? Of course. We could replace it–after a $500 deductible on our part. Or we could repair it (which we did, but still have to look at the blemish).
Now, for the perspective part. The day before the rock chip, our brother in Christ, Darius Linton, was involved in a head-on collision in New Mexico. He, and two other firemen were attending training there. A young lady lost control of her car and crashed into them head-on. She was killed. Darius was severely injured in the accident. He has since had numerous surgeries on his legs, and still remains in the hospital. The other two firemen were less severely injured.
Compare the two–a rock chip and a head-on collision! There are some things in life that should distress us and cause great concern. A rock chip is not one of those things.
Pray for Darius (b).
Blessings to you my friends,
–Max