The Bigger Picture

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        Admitting one’s faults does not come easy for most of us.  However, it is a necessary part of life, if you desire to mature in your manner of thinking.  Therefore, I must admit to you that recently, I was self-righteous in my approach with a particular situation.

It was hard for me to admit that I may have made a mistake in how I handled it.  I somehow justified my actions to make myself feel better.  As time passed, however, I soon forgot about it.  But about a month later, this particular situation was presented to me again. At that point, I had to deal with the reality of it all.

I reflected on that day and wanted to get to the root cause of why I acted the way that I did.   Let me share with you what I learned…

In all honesty, I found someone who had gotten herself wrapped up on her own tiny world of doubts and insecurities.  The more I wallowed in self-pity and nervous energy, the more I fed my anxiety.  I saw in myself someone that desired more to what she saw in the present, but had no viable outlet.  But in my own reflection, I did not see the fact that I was inwardly focused. I was viewing these things through the lens of self, and not through the lens of Christ.

I was viewing myself that day in a way that was unproductive, and less than fruitful. Being a bit transparent with myself, I saw someone who felt alone and boxed in by her emotions.  But with that truth, the better way to approach the day would have been from a Christ-like perspective. What could I do where I was to serve someone else?  What could I add to someone’s day, or life with the resources that I had?

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves 

and take up their cross daily and follow me.”

 Luke 9: 23 (NIV)

This verse provided for me the perfect instruction.  What I needed to do that day was “deny myself” the need to be so self-involved, so self-consumed that I forgot to see the bigger picture.  Seeing that there was a bigger world outside of my own tiny world of doubts and insecurities opened my eyes to a wider perspective. This perspective shows me that love “does not insist on its own way”, “but rejoices with the truth”.¹

The truth for me was the fact that I needed God to show me a new perspective.  I needed a new perspective to teach me that I had made an error in judgment.  I needed a new perspective to teach me that it was okay to admit that I had made a mistake.  I needed a new perspective to teach me that the mistake was rooted in pride, and not love.  This new perspective showed me how to focus outwardly, on the bigger picture.

I liken this to using a wider lens to view yourself, and the world. When you continue to focus inwardly, your tiny world of problems will be magnified. But if you span out your view, and widen the lens, you are but a mere spot on the bigger globe of planet earth. 

There are thousands of people around you that need your focus… not on yourself, but on the bigger picture.  

So, I challenge myself, as well as you to widen our lens and see the truth in our reality. We are to forgo our pride, and inwardly self-centered focus.  We must widen our lens to see the bigger picture. 

Are you ready to take that challenge? How does widening your lens change what you focus on?

I look forward to seeing your thoughts and comments.

¹ I Corinthians 13: 4-7 (ESV)