A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE
Sometimes a new perspective is needed to give us energy and motivation to move on. Sometimes a different viewpoint is all it takes for us to turn the corner and gain new insight.
This can happen when we engage in a conversation with someone, when we slow down enough to examine our situation, or when we evaluate our circumstances with an open mind.
When we meet someone who we know has very little but is immensely happy it causes us to think differently about our perspective on possessions.
When we hear a child sing when they are all alone it may drive us to evaluate what we think happiness is.
When we see a display of unquestionable sportsmanship, it can make us redefine what we hold as winning.
Two young children of different races walking arm in arm will pull us toward evaluating our thoughts of friendship.
Learning of a person donating a kidney to someone they’ve never met, re-defines for us the words generosity and kindness.
The following story illustrates the importance and the ease of a changed mindset.
A successful businessman named Tom Clarkson gained a new perspective while on vacation on a tropical island. He came across a local fisherman who he found relaxing by the seashore.
He asked the man his plans for the rest of the day and was told, “I've caught enough fish to feed my family and pay my bills, so I am enjoying God's creation."
Then Tom felt the business side of him speak up, "But sir, don't you understand? If you would keep fishing throughout the day, you could make more money and eventually buy more ships."
The fisherman turned to Tom and nodded in understanding. Tom took that as permission to continue. "If you kept investing your money you would someday be as rich as I," suggested the businessman.
"Why would I want to do that," asked the fisherman.
"Well, don't you see? You could eventually retire and vacation on a beach somewhere and simply lay back and enjoy God's creation," added the industrialist.
"Isn't that what I am doing now?" responded the fisherman.
The words froze Tom in his thoughts. He had no answer to that question and was forced to admit that the fisherman had a more than valid point.
How open are you to a new perspective? The world is an open book my friends. And it is just beckoning us to stop long enough to read it and grow from it.
Have a great day and fly high my friends!
Notable Quotable: “You may not be able to know the full meaning of every event, but you can know that every event is meaningful.” Joni Ericson Tada