Same Room - A Different Perspective

 

In my elementary school, I share a classroom with my friend and colleague, Laura.  We've worked together for 8 years now and have shared three different rooms in our building during that time.  Our working and teaching styles complement each other, and we've cooperated very well over the years in designing our schedules and setting up our various classrooms in an order that works for both of us.

Teaching in the time of COVID- 19 looks very different than what we've ever done before.  With the changes in our teaching situations, we decided that we needed an adjustment in our room arrangement. Laura teaches some groups that needed to have more room between their chairs for proper social distancing, so we've adapted how we had divided our space to give her that additional room.  A free-standing partition wall that we've used for several years was turned diagonally in the room and it changed the look of the entire space. Very little of the furniture on my side of the room was moved, but the whole space looks different.  Even though there is probably a little less square footage there than before, it looks bigger and more open.  Same room - a different perspective.

This experience made me think about all the situations in our lives that can look a certain way to us, but we have the freedom in Christ to look at them from a different perspective.  We can endeavor to see circumstances the way God sees them.

The apostle Paul is a stellar example of this way of viewing life.  He saw shipwreck, beatings, danger, and imprisonment as a means to an end - the spreading of the gospel throughout the world. He looked beyond his current circumstances and saw God working behind the scenes to bring glory to Himself.  In Philippians 4:11, Paul writes, "Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content". He was able to look beyond the "room " of his situation and see a different perspective than others who might have experienced similar hardships.

In the Old Testament, Joseph went from being a favored son to a slave to a trusted servant to a prisoner before being raised up to become second in command to only Pharoah himself. The Bible doesn't tell us whether he held on to his boyhood dreams and expected release from prison, but it does tell us that he experienced favor in the midst of the worst situation of his life.  He continued to operate in the gifts God had given him, even in a jail cell.  He saw a perspective that didn't negate his previous walk with God, even though he didn't know exactly how it would all work out.

I can't count the number of times I've heard the words "unprecedented situation" in the year 2020, but I know that all of us have been touched in some way by either bewilderment, distrust, inconvenience, financial distress, illness, grief, or frustration.  This room that we are in has changed.  Life is not the same as it once was, and what we first thought might be a temporary rearrangement of our lives is feeling more permanent, even though we still hope and pray for a lifting of this burden in all of our lives.  

But what if in the midst of all this, we look at it from a different perspective? Same situation; different view?  What if we looked upon this time as a season for the church to shine like never before?  What if we took the time spent at home when other places are closed to us, and we used it to seek God with a renewed enthusiasm and intensity?  What if we use the gifts that God has imparted to us, even in a less than ideal situation?

Give those questions some thought and prayer this week and ask God to help you see the potential He sees in the problems in your life.  Ask Him to alter your perspective so that instead of seeing what you've lost, you can see where He is taking you next.  His view is far superior and He knows exactly where He wants you to go.

These Boots Weren't Made for Walking.....

      Last week, I wore a pair of boots with heels to work.  I'm an elementary school teacher who works in classes all over my building, so there's a great deal of walking involved.  By 10:00 a.m. I was on the phone with my husband, begging him to bring me a change of shoes.  My poor feet, which had been either barefoot or in tennis shoes for seven months, were miserable.  There were aches and pains in places where I didn't even remember I had places. For many days after this unfortunate choice of footwear, my feet continued to hurt.

     I remember thinking, why in the world did I do that to myself?  I started thinking about all the reasons a woman might wear shoes that hurt her feet and it led me to some spiritual parallels as well.  See if you agree.....

1.  To be accepted in a group

     When my daughter was about to enter middle school, she pleaded with me to buy her some Guess jeans.  She insisted that NOBODY would talk to her if she didn't have the right label on her behind.  How often do we do something because it's the "in" thing to do? This is most prevalent with teenagers and peer pressure, but many adults fall victim to needing the world's stamp of approval more than the acceptance of God. 

     The Bible tells us, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Romans 12:2.

      In other words - don't worry about being "in fashion", concern yourself with letting God fashion you into His image.

2.  To increase height

     I am vertically challenged, barely hitting five feet tall.  I always say I went into elementary school teaching so I wouldn't have to teach students taller than I, but they start catching up with me toward the end of fourth grade, so I guess that wasn't good planning on my part after all. Adding those extra inches with a pair of shoes can be tempting. 

     Being taller gives us a feeling of being more in authority.  Did you know the average height of our American presidents is 5' 11"?   The average height of an American man is 5' 8". Leaders are thought of as being taller and more imposing than those they lead.  

     Artificially trying to make ourselves taller can cause all kinds of issues with our feet.  Trying to force ourselves into positions of authority to which we are not entitled can cause issues also.  In the kingdom of God, He holds all authority but gives it to us in the name of Jesus.  We can't operate in authority in our own strength.  

     Acts 19:15 tells the story of seven sons of a priest named Sceva who were attempting to cast out evil spirits in the name of Jesus "who Paul preaches".  The evil spirit answered back to them saying, 

"Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?"

    If we walk in humility instead of trying to exalt ourselves in the eyes of those around us, something extraordinary happens.  James 4:10 says, "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up."

3.  To look good

     We all want to look out best, and that goal is fine as long as we don't prioritize our looks over all else in our lives. However, when vanity overwhelms us, it leaves us putting all of our efforts into things that profit nothing in the eternal scheme of things. 

  1 Peter 3:3-4 says, "Do not let your adornment be merely outward-arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel - rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God."

     When we seek acceptance, power, or physical beauty in the wrong places, we can hurt ourselves, just like those boots which are now in my "give to charity box" did a number on my feet.  If we are accepted by God, empowered by God, and made beautiful in His sight, we don't need anything else.