Personal Narrative: Changing Perspectives

Changing Perspectives

Very few things deserve the time you thought they did anymore. In a world of ever-changing ideals, moral compasses and economies; the world never slows down. Even in a small town community like Mineola, we can see the constant hurry of the outside world creeping in. This effect has cause a chain reaction of sorts that has even the youngest of citizens moving in a frantic pace.

As I waited in the morning carline to drop off my grandkids, I took notice of a fine looking Shelby Mustang. This was not a classic car, certainly not a 1969 Shelby, but it was a mighty fine looking car with the cascading blinker from that 80s show Knightrider. If you can imagine, this car would be a tremendous teenage dream.

This Shelby dropped off a student at the middle school, turned on the cascading blinker, and began to inch itself over into the next lane. This can usually be a tight spot to maneuver, but the Shelby decided that it was an absolute must to get out of that carline. The Shelby revved the engine, inched closer to the connecting lane, swerved back into the other lane and then finally managed to cut off a 4x4 Dodge Ram. As the Shelby moved forward, thinking that she had escaped the dreaded carline, it reached the primary school crosswalk and stopped abruptly to allow parents and children to cross.

As the Shelby waited, the Dodge Ram, who she had cutoff, moved into the next lane to drop off their child.

I watched in somewhat disbelief as the Dodge Ram rolled up right next to the Shelby and as the crosswalk cleared, the Dodge and the Shelby drove off at the same time.

Amazing!

Now this reminded me of several lessons from my pre-school years including the old story of the tortoise and the hare and even the quote about good things coming to those who wait. But as I set back and reflected on the lesson, I began to realize that this is the eternal struggle of American society. We are always jockeying for position, trying to overtake the person in front of us or in the next lane. We are in constant pursuit of riches, of things and those things speed us all up. And as we blow by our competition or we "do whatever it takes" to get by, life always throws us a curveball of a crosswalk to slow us down.

If you juxtapose the Shelby with the Dodge Ram, you could come to the conclusion that a slow methodical pace will yield the same results in time. It reminds me of how the Bible teaches us that all things are made perfect or beautiful in its own time. This magnificent struggle called life is not something that we should consider a straight forward, finish line orientated 100 meter sprint but a marathon with peaks and valleys, rocky terrain and a finish line that is more about the journey then the destination. Jesus calls us all to a greater awareness of this God-given struggle in order for us to take notice of the majesty of the simple, precious moments that shape both are life and our learning.

To all of you living in the fast lane, try to slow down and change your perspective. Life is beautiful and meant to be lived gradually deliberate. Enjoy it!

Further up and further in,

Quiet Wellwisher