One thing that always baffles me is perspective.  I have recently dealt with many different perspectives through process of one of our most recent journeys.  It is interesting to see how many different perspectives people can have concerning decisions in your life and/or other’s lives.  Many things shape each of our own, personal perspectives.  Things like, culture, finances, age, maturity, relationship status (married, single, divorced, widowed), religious persuasions and theology.  However, the one thing that I believe greatly impacts our perspective the most is gossip.

While many of us strive to tame the tongue or silence the sword we often still give audience to gossip with our ears.  I realize right about now you are thinking, “didn’t the title of this post say ‘Get a New Perspective’?”  The answer to your questions is, “Yes!  Yes, it did!”  Let me share with you my thoughts and observations over the past several months, look back on some things in your life that you have observed while I also share.  How many times have you seen folks get so bent out of shape simply because the “heard” that someone did or said something that they don’t appreciate?  When this happens, as humans, we tend to over react and start forming our very own, rigid and 95% of the time wrong perspectives of others.  Other times people have been told bits and pieces of true events and then they piece them together with their own thoughts about how it “went down.”

Trust me when I say, “been there – done that.”  I am not writing this blog because I am trying to call anyone specific person out.  I too have fallen victim to this ancient snare of tongue and misinformed thoughts and words.  What makes this worse is that even when we are presented with the Truth or facts as I like to call them, we continue to harbor ill feelings or bad “perspectives” of those involved.  So, how do we try to remedy these false perspectives into godly perspectives.

First of all, pray about those things in which you have perceived something to be true when it is actually false.  Ask God to reveal to you the truth and show you the direction to move forward and don’t dwell in the past.

Secondly, whatever the issue(s) is(are) go to those involved and ask them to forgive you for giving false witness about the events to others whom you have “shared” your concern with.  As I continue to grow in the Lord and grow in years I have realized that time is not on our side.  The scriptures tell us “not to let the sun go down on your anger” (Ephesians 4:26).  I believe this is true even when we may not be angry, but just bothered by something or someone.  Find reconciliation while it may yet be found.  This is sometimes the hardest step to accomplish.  I find that admitting to the Lord and asking Him to forgive me is sometimes easier than asking another “mortal” to forgive me.  I can let God know that I am weak and humble, but letting another human know I am sorry or WRONG?!?!  That just isn’t right, is it?  Try it.  You will be surprised how much better you will feel to have your heart clean before God and our brothers in Christ.

The final thing that we need to do to get a new perspective is to quit stepping into situations in which we will be pulled into a “chat session” about someone or something.  It is ok to say, “Hey, let’s change the subject.”  Or simply walk away.  You might be surprised at how by simply walking away from a conversation will spur in others the thought that they probably shouldn’t be discussing those things.

One other piece of advice that my lovely wife is still teaching me, “Just because we don’t agree on something doesn’t mean that I am a bad person or completely wrong on everything else in life.”

That’s about it for today.  I pray that you are meeting God in His Word and on your knees in prayer.  Oh, and don’t forget to worship Him throughout your entire day and week.  Let me know what you thought of this post or any of the others I have.  I’d love the feedback.

Pastor Isaac