Oct 27th, 2020: Which Perspective is Yours?

 

I just like this picture. Many of us have felt like we live in some kind of prison for the last few months. Now the new measures against the spread of Covid-19 have been introduced. We have seen various responses, and many are negative. Some express the fear of a total collapse of our economy. Some talk about individual rights and freedom. Some even mention the whole notion of conspiracy and the so-called hoax. I have family members who suffered from contracting Covid-19, so it is no hoax to me.

What do we see when we look at the future? Do we identify with the painter on the left who can only see the bars? Some of us can only see the restrictions and what we have lost. It is depressing from his perspective. There is no life and no color in how he views the world. He finishes his painting a lot sooner than the other one. When we have no hope, we have no desire and no capability to engage in what is going on. Our lives come to a standstill. There is no moving forward. There is no learning and adjustment.

Now let us look at the other painter. He is a hopeful one. He is still dreaming as he continues to paint. Some of what he puts down on the canvas depends on his imagination. It is vibrant and lively. He focuses on what he paints. He does not need to worry about how the other fellow feels or does. He seems to be in tune with his internal well-being as he tries to be hopeful as he looks further to the future.

So now, as we prepare ourselves for a more challenging fall as many medical experts have anticipated, what would be our choices? Can we have our confidence in God as we make our choices about living?

 Galatians 6: 8 

"Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life."

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