Tip of My Iceberg

Working with emerging leaders in a variety of countries around the world, our daughter, Tiffany, and her family spent time in Columbia recently. Meeting new people was amazing.

Seeing new sights was also incredible.

While in Bogota, they came across a plaza surrounded by old buildings, Bolivar Square, that attracted tourists and locals alike. It had been used for circus acts, public markets, and bullfights.

And a plethora of pigeons.

Brooklyn, Mason, and Nolan were entranced by the spectacle–they called it a pigeon farm. They believed that someone somehow was raising pigeons for goodness knows what reason.

My dad used to call pigeons sky rats. Nasty critters who’d make a mess of anywhere they were, always looking for food, willing to eat anything, and being a general annoyance,

The kids didn’t think that way. They saw them as fun and friendly. The pigeons weren’t afraid of them; on the contrary, they hoped the kids would provide food.

What others saw as a bother, the kids saw as enchanting. Most saw the filth the pigeons left behind. The kids knelt in it to get closer to the birds, not caring about the grossness of the pavement.

Perspective is an amazing thing.

When I look at my life, it’s easier to see the mistakes and the problems. They glare at me, like sky rats waiting to drop their disgust at my feet. But my perspective is greatly impacted by my circumstances, and when things are good, I see the hope and blessing of my life.

When the challenges rear up their heads, and they will, it’s easier to see the faults and blunders that I constantly fall into.

Those are life companions for everybody.

Our perspectives are too often like peering at our reflection through a cracked mirror; nothing is clear. Our brokenness affects how we look at life–our outlook reflects what fills our hearts.

The apostle Paul reminded us that God’s grace toward us can change how we experience life.

“Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without His unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. the things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.” 2 Corinthians 4:16b-18

We don’t have to focus and obsess about all the wrong and hard that’s happening now. It will be that way as long as we live. Instead we can anchor our hope on what God has promised–eternal hope, peace, and joy with Him.

The kids could see past the mess the pigeons made and saw the wonder of so many birds gathered for their pleasure.

Mess will happen. Daily.

Choose to lift your eyes to what can be true if you invite God’s love into your life.

Sky rats can destroy peace and contentment.

God can provide it.