Perspective

Posted byGary FultzPosted inabundant life, accomplishment, Build Faith, christmas, communion with God, creative process, deadly spiritual perspective, deception, devotional, devotional thoughts, discipline, eternal, expectations, Gary Fultz Blog, initiator, intentional, Jesus Christ, Know God, knowing God, listening to God, Nature, nature pictures, outdoor scenery, outdoor spiritual truths, perspective, Photography, picture truths, prayer, purpose in life, quality of life, relationship building, relationship with God, snowing, spiritual concepts, spiritual deception, Spiritual Perspective, Spiritual picture Truths, storm cleanup, victorious living, walk with God, Work HardTags:, , , , , , ,

My Snow Storm View Of Life

I took a picture that (to me) represented a whole lot of things in life, including me. To really get to know me you would have to be with me through the thick and thin times. How hard, how little, how much and how long I work till project completion or maybe give up. Find out what I value and how deep those veins run. Do I whisper, mutter or yell when the hammer hits a thumb? Do I discuss my faith and contradict my words later?

So, I paint my best picture of me for your unbiased perspective of your fellow blogger Gary. I select a photo of me looking young. I take 200 pictures of the outdoors and select the best to share. You are not fooled. I have “tells” that show up when tired, stressed, elated or just grumpy. I’m giving you a vantage point to sway your perspective of a good, strong, educated, articulate and fairly talented me.

These are only a few thoughts as I look at one of our oak trees through the window and see a very wrong perspective of this poor tree.

The storm obviously damaged this tree so bad it’s dangerous to our picnic area. That’s my perspective. I found out the other day how wrong I am. Same tree, different vantage point.

If I can be that wrong about a tree, oh my… how do we adjust to see one another? How do we adjust to see beyond ourselves into the eyes of a child destined to die in our place? Lowly shepherds were given the best vantage point to the right perspective of the baby Jesus. A Roman centurion was given a mind-blowing vantage point of Jesus on the cross, adjusting his perspective.

I keep gazing at that tree out my window. It looks broken and weak, but I know that only a big branch broke off, and the rest of the tree is alive and strong. I hear whispers (or is it just thoughts coming to mind?)…”I know that tree. I know you, the earth, the oceans, the wars and what everyone is saying. Do you want to know what I think?” I nod my head… “oh yeah”.

Gary

I am mulling over what I read this morning…coincidence? “Lord, you have been our refuge in every generation. Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from eternity to eternity, you are God” (Psalm 90:1-2).

Published by Gary Fultz

Outdoors Man, Hunter, Fisherman, Guide, Writer / Author, Photographer, Public Speaker, Musician, Song Writer, Story Teller, Follower Of Jesus. Love God and family and total strangers

36 thoughts on “Perspective”

  1. “how do we adjust to see one another?”

    I humbly bow and ask God for His perspective.

    With our finite eyes & senses, we cannot conceive of what God places before us. We rely on the mind of Christ, by His mercy & grace.

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    1. So true Alan…Thanks…and give me a chance to wax eloquently and philosophically while rhyming and trying to use very few words, so it could be sung. But, when I got older…bullet points are OK.

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  3. Well said, Gary. The things that are visible offer a myriad of perspectives and ways to interpret what is seen and presented. Thank you for sharing your experience and wisdom. What a humbling approach to take a step back from one’s impressions and going out to take a closer look at the tree, in this case. Putting out the best of what we are able to do into the world is a way to offer light to the world so that just maybe, one other person who reads your blogs or sees your work might someday see in the eyes of that small child the blessed savior of the world.

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    1. I love how you take keen insight and put it into context Suzette. One of my life mentors always told me “always go one step further than most are willing to go”. The concept of “that one person” has driven me to keep going when I was a youth director when young as well as to create “just one more post”. Thank you for your encouragement.

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  4. Since coming back the Lord has made it quite clear that all my suffering service is now being rewarded.
    I was wrongfully evicted looking crushed, destroyed and completely broken . Living in a tent when almost seventy with no money because mommy refused to pay me for my services. Instead she gave her money to her grand daughter to get drunk on while contributing nothing down here She was having a temper tantrum because I refused to work for free
    Now I am dancing with joy, am full of energy and full of The Holy Spirit It seems as if everything I touch is blessed
    Mommy of course is suffering by Christ’s hand because of what she did. Jesus is a God of justice and I see His justice being done hard on those who abused me

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  5. Your transparency is refreshingly precious Gary. Thank you brother.

    I believe most of us overly strive to present the best, tidy-uped perspective of ourselves to others … heaven forbid others may perceive we’re not the “I’m fine” we so glibly proclaim and think less of us, when our Creator, who knows our every struggle and sin always thinks and has the best perspective of us.

    Keep Looking Up ^ … His Best is Yet to Come!

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    1. Looking forward to what’s coming Fred…I suppose it’s best to present ourselves well to the world around us but not be a con artist about it. It’s the crazy human side of us that tries to con God…especially thinking we can tell God how good we are.

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      1. Amen Gary! The “con artist” of pride … so humanly natural to justify, so spiritually necessary realize and reject.

        I know the struggle all too well brother and, like, know Who gives the victory, unconditionally loving me in spite of my oft inflated ‘adequate’ self image.

        Be blessed and . . .

        Keep Looking Up ^… His Best is Yet to Come!

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  6. Yep on all accounts. As I sat in church this past Sunday, listening to the sermon about this wild man calling us to repent and prepare the way of the Lord, me the church president, me the Lay Ministry Associate, me the “great sermon writer”, me the perfectionist, sat there asking God to see through all of this and soften my heart, turn me to Him – fully, to help me trust and help me forgive. I’ve made plenty of preparations externally – but me inside has a lot has a lot of work to do. Or so I would like to think. In truth the hardest part is accepting that the Work has already been done. The impression I paint would have you believe deep down I know this. Thank you for reminding me I am not alone in the struggle.

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    1. No, you are not alone there Erika. There should be a verse in the bible about conning ourselves into false self exaltation….wait…There is a bunch of them… I remember speaking at a camp full of teenagers. I used a lot of humor but what keeps coming back at me was my 4 points. 1) take a walk, 2) Have a talk, 3) get right, 4) stay tight. Turns out I was preaching to myself for life. When Isaiah cried out “woe is me” as he saw the Lord, God didn’t say to him “come on now Isaiah, there, there, don’t be so hard on yourself…The babe in a manger, the cross, God’s daring rescue plan. Serious eternal stuff to get right in our lives.

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  7. I appreciate thinking Christians! Prov. 23:7 NKJV ‘For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.’ At the same time a thinker submitted to the LORD’S thoughts, Is. 55:9 NRSV ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’ Bless you and your family at this season and always, Gary!

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    1. Erroll, you are in that camp of thinking Christians as well as knowledgeable from God’s views. I love those verses. I also think of you when it’s really cold here and I imagine warm there. A couple of snowing days here and then very cold (-20 f predicted). Yes, celebrating God’s coming to earth as well as taking in some end of year thoughts and prayers

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  8. Perspective. How a reader views us through our words depends on the reader’s perspective coming to the table. Hmm. Much more for reflection. Thank you, Gary.

    Why I write: I write something I need to remember. I post to posit it where I can find it again, so that I can come back and reflect each time I need the reminder.

    BTW: I love the snowstorm picture at the top. Much like the view I’m having outside my window now. Beautiful from where I sit. Not so much if I were driving in it.

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    1. I’m glad we get to read what you want to remember G. W. Your perceptions are honed by walking close to the savior and seeing from HIs vantage point. It will be snowing here for the day very soon. The bucket is on the skid steer for the 3-5 inches…The snow blower attachment is ready if it really piles up…Like you, I do love the window views these days with a hot beverage handy.

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  9. A beautifully written piece on perspective, and comes at a perfect time ~ reflecting on the year that has past, and more importantly reflecting on ourselves. Well done, Gary. Wishing you and your family peace and beauty this Christmas season.

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  14. There really is only one way to view others … that is the same way God does … by looking in the heart. Oops. I can’t see the heart, so yes, I need God’s wisdom and discernment if I’m supposed to come to a conclusion.

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  15. I’ve spent a good deal of time wondering about perception and perspective this year, Gary. Some of it art related. Other stuff relates to my mental wellbeing. It’s taken work, but I believe I’ve made progress. Reading through the various comments on this post, it’s a beautiful thing to see how you are a blessing to others. 🙏

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    1. You and I both Rainer. It’s quite a discipline for me to step back and ask “How does God see this situation, person or just my living out the day with my sometimes-odd priorities. I understand the “art related” as I take photos or write a song with perspective and perception in mind. Gods Word grounds me deeply and my wife grounds me practically. There are some really great people out there online entering some good conversation

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