Perspective

A man is walking in the woods, surrounded by thick trees, dense brush and limited sunlight filtering through the trees. He walks and walks with the scenery changing seemingly little on his path. The path ahead is filled with more trees and brush, just as the path he came from.

Another man is walking in an open meadow. The trees are behind him and he enjoys the sun warming his skin as he progresses. He can see much of the path ahead, yet the path is long and he can't see the end from this place.

A third man is standing high on the summit of a mountain. As he looks down he can see the thick trees at the base of the mountain and remembers how thick the trees were as he started his journey. As his gaze scans the mountain, he sees the open meadow and recalls the joy of feeling the sun as he continued his journey, finally out of the trees that so limited his sight. Now at the summit, he can see not only the mountain, but all that lies around the peak. The other mountains, valleys, towns and cities he can survey and knows that there is so much more to see and discover.

All three of these men are on the same mountain, but each sees something different because of where he's at. What's interesting is that even if there were six men climbing the mountain, two in each group, they would all see something different because of where they are standing.

That's the way our lives are - we see things from the place that we are standing, and sometimes it's difficult to see anything else. This is completely natural, I believe. However, this can create challenges in our lives because we live with other people. I've experienced this most in my closest relationships because I had this idea that since we are so important to one another we would be willing/able to put ourselves in the other persons shoes. (Sometimes, I think I'm so silly!)

What I just came to know is that it's so important for me to allow myself and others to have our own experiences and to love and honor all of the experiences. When I wanted someone else to see what I saw I wasn't honoring their experience - I was thinking that it was more important for them to see mine. Other times I thought that my experience was somehow wrong and I needed to change to see what the other person saw. The truth is, all of it is beautiful and amazing.

Think back to the three men on the mountain. Have you ever been surrounded by trees and brush? Can you recall how lovely nature is in that moment? Now, the open meadow, with the sun shining down - how amazing is that view? Next, see the view from the summit of the mountain - does it feel like you can see the whole world? No one would ever doubt the beauty of these places, yet with those in our lives, we do it all the time.

So, how do I remind myself that it's just perspective and that all the views are lovely? Do I find pictures to hang in my home? Or is it possible that as I look inside of me for peace that I will simply remember the truth - everything is beautiful!