Do you have any idea how many words we have in our language that convey 'how we see it' --perspective. This creates disagreements, arguments, debates, skirmishes, battles and even all out wars! Our perception CREATES our reality. So? "So what," you may say. Doesn't seem that vital or earth shaking to your life perhaps. And yet... " You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family." There's that word - real, really - it seems to be very important in the scheme of things.
Just a quick perusal of the A's in the dictionary shows us acknowledge, awareness, arrogance, ambiguous, attitudes, absolute, aberration, acceptable, according to, accountable, actuality, aesthetics, affect, etc....
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
It's just the way YOU see it...
...it's not the way it IS! One of the biggest hurdles for a human, and especially an American human to jump, is the idea that "the way they see things" is just that, it's their perspective, not reality! When I first heard that there are hundred's of 'realities' and as many perspectives as there are people, I was indignant and sure poetic license had exaggerated just a wee bit.
Since that indistinguishable day I have taken great comfort in knowing that my viewpoint does not constitute reality, it's just the way I see things for the moment, or maybe the way I have seen things for decades. So what is Reality? Who decides what is real, Reality? When do we move from Perspective to Truth? Truth and Reality are close kin, and so that immediately elevates this discussion beyond my pay grade...but I do have an opinion, and a perspective! [Grin]
Interestingly, people in recovery, AA, OA, NA, etc, have believed that they have peeled back "denial" and come to Reality when they quit: using, lying, buying, looking, eating, etc. For our discussion purposes, I would like to propose that God defines Reality, His view is Real, and not just a perspective, and our view is limited by time, and two or three dimensions at best. One of His favorite words is "Glory" and one of the multiple meanings is "the view and opinion, which is reality." So, "His Glory" means His view and opinion, which is reality!
The classic picture of Perspective versus Reality is seen in the guy who parks his car at the top of a hill, and as he walks away, sees it begin to roll down the hill. "Don't worry, the car is rolling away from me, I'm going to lose my car." The guy at the bottom of the hill looks up, hearing the man proclaim his view, and says "NO! The car is coming toward me, I could lose my life."
And here's the rub: Who is RIGHT? This one question is what keeps the debate raging, I think. Right and Wrong; fairness; the Law; the evaluation of "good" and "evil" has a great deal to do with what we decide/feel or see is Reality, I believe.
"Our traditions begin the moment we insist that we see." This is a fascinating statement that I found in one of Dr. Richards books. As Christians we create theology based on what we see and experience, rather than on what the Bible says is reality! We are so self-righteous that we believe what we see more than what God's Word says is truth. "All that we must do to 'see' is to honestly consider other possibilities [realities]." This quote is a wonderful jumping off point to life!
Since that indistinguishable day I have taken great comfort in knowing that my viewpoint does not constitute reality, it's just the way I see things for the moment, or maybe the way I have seen things for decades. So what is Reality? Who decides what is real, Reality? When do we move from Perspective to Truth? Truth and Reality are close kin, and so that immediately elevates this discussion beyond my pay grade...but I do have an opinion, and a perspective! [Grin]
Interestingly, people in recovery, AA, OA, NA, etc, have believed that they have peeled back "denial" and come to Reality when they quit: using, lying, buying, looking, eating, etc. For our discussion purposes, I would like to propose that God defines Reality, His view is Real, and not just a perspective, and our view is limited by time, and two or three dimensions at best. One of His favorite words is "Glory" and one of the multiple meanings is "the view and opinion, which is reality." So, "His Glory" means His view and opinion, which is reality!
The classic picture of Perspective versus Reality is seen in the guy who parks his car at the top of a hill, and as he walks away, sees it begin to roll down the hill. "Don't worry, the car is rolling away from me, I'm going to lose my car." The guy at the bottom of the hill looks up, hearing the man proclaim his view, and says "NO! The car is coming toward me, I could lose my life."
And here's the rub: Who is RIGHT? This one question is what keeps the debate raging, I think. Right and Wrong; fairness; the Law; the evaluation of "good" and "evil" has a great deal to do with what we decide/feel or see is Reality, I believe.
"Our traditions begin the moment we insist that we see." This is a fascinating statement that I found in one of Dr. Richards books. As Christians we create theology based on what we see and experience, rather than on what the Bible says is reality! We are so self-righteous that we believe what we see more than what God's Word says is truth. "All that we must do to 'see' is to honestly consider other possibilities [realities]." This quote is a wonderful jumping off point to life!
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Fast and Slow Learners
Have you wondered why some things in life we learn so quickly -- and in other areas we seem destined to repeat the same mistakes over and over?
Perhaps it is denial in a classical sense, perhaps it is an acquired habit that we don't recognize as 'nasty' until we have it half devoured...
I seem to repeat the same faux pas over and over: trying to convince someone of a new way of seeing things, when they really haven't said the way they see things is "tiring" to them!
Perhaps it is denial in a classical sense, perhaps it is an acquired habit that we don't recognize as 'nasty' until we have it half devoured...
I seem to repeat the same faux pas over and over: trying to convince someone of a new way of seeing things, when they really haven't said the way they see things is "tiring" to them!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
18 Inches: The difference between kids & adults-REVISED
An interesting thing has surfaced while observing my two and a half year old grandson. He is in the stage of growth where he is 'downloading' everything that he sees and hears. All of us are gaining information and experiences daily, but I think the main difference between young and old is their [the young's] willingness to APPLY everything that they see or hear. They use it, say it, repeat it and make it theirs. Sometimes it makes for some funny statements, like: "Daddy you are really useful."
That sounds a little tacky to adult ears, but coming from a child who watches Thomas the Train, and hears the value given to 'useful trains' he is using it correctly and positively. Realizing God 'hardwired' us to absorb and apply information and knowledge is encouraging to me. Gaining knowledge and forgetting to apply it describes much of my life and walk with my Abba Papa! It's good to know how natural the Lord made it -- even a little infant does it instantly.
Knowing children are continually in some degree of an hypnotic state [alpha, delta, theta, etc] until they are around 11/12 encourages me to meditate daily in Christ. The meditation brings my mind to the theta state and I am in a more child-like position to 'receive' or download what I've seen and heard into my life's operating system> my beliefs, or my HEART. It moves what I am thinking and feeling, from my mind to my heart and I begin living it, applying it effortlessly.
The bible declares only one sure way to success: MEDITATION. It also declares that we are "to become like little children", [Matt 18:3 & Luke 18:17]. I think the two are related. This addresses the age-old quest of believers: "How do I move "head knowledge" 18 inches down, to my "heart", so I can believe?
Children are some of the most successful people on earth if you quantify all that they learn and apply in 1-5 years! Language, culture, philosophy, the art of 'reading people', on and on. Some of us aren't so happy with what a child learns so quickly, or with what we learned as a child. The feeling of stuck: "I can't really change who I am" comes because we know how "hardwired" those beliefs and perspectives are that we gained in childhood.
That's the good news that I'm talkin' about!! More on this tomorrow = 8-)
See Psalms 1:3 for my favorite scripture on meditation and success promised. There are many others that connect our 'heart' with success, blessing, prosperity, etc.
That sounds a little tacky to adult ears, but coming from a child who watches Thomas the Train, and hears the value given to 'useful trains' he is using it correctly and positively. Realizing God 'hardwired' us to absorb and apply information and knowledge is encouraging to me. Gaining knowledge and forgetting to apply it describes much of my life and walk with my Abba Papa! It's good to know how natural the Lord made it -- even a little infant does it instantly.
Knowing children are continually in some degree of an hypnotic state [alpha, delta, theta, etc] until they are around 11/12 encourages me to meditate daily in Christ. The meditation brings my mind to the theta state and I am in a more child-like position to 'receive' or download what I've seen and heard into my life's operating system> my beliefs, or my HEART. It moves what I am thinking and feeling, from my mind to my heart and I begin living it, applying it effortlessly.
The bible declares only one sure way to success: MEDITATION. It also declares that we are "to become like little children", [Matt 18:3 & Luke 18:17]. I think the two are related. This addresses the age-old quest of believers: "How do I move "head knowledge" 18 inches down, to my "heart", so I can believe?
Children are some of the most successful people on earth if you quantify all that they learn and apply in 1-5 years! Language, culture, philosophy, the art of 'reading people', on and on. Some of us aren't so happy with what a child learns so quickly, or with what we learned as a child. The feeling of stuck: "I can't really change who I am" comes because we know how "hardwired" those beliefs and perspectives are that we gained in childhood.
That's the good news that I'm talkin' about!! More on this tomorrow = 8-)
See Psalms 1:3 for my favorite scripture on meditation and success promised. There are many others that connect our 'heart' with success, blessing, prosperity, etc.
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