20/20 Perspective

I hesitated to grab the low-hanging fruit blog topic for today.  Surely blogs, vlogs, and the like will fill social media with comments - some poetic and some prose - about how tomorrow marks the day that the new year's number matches the numbers that represent "perfect" vision.  My hesitation, however, lost out as the theme continues to grab my attention.  Allow me to grab yours for a couple of minutes.  

As a refresher course, I will explain the meaning of the measurement of vision.

• 20/20 vision means that a person sees objects with clarity at 20 feet.  It is thus "perfect" vision.
• 20/80 vision means that a person sees objects with clarity at 80 feet only by moving forward 60 feet.
• 20/10 vision means that a person sees objects with clarity at 20 feet that a person with "perfect" vision must be 10 feet away from.  Thus better than "perfect" vision.

Dr. Seuss' wonderful book My Many Colored Days provides a creative way to explain the many different feelings one experiences.  Some bright days are such because we feel as happy as a circus seal.  Other days are dull because we feel sour and gray.

In the year to come, you and I will have many days of many colors - happy orange, dull gray, and the like.  Jesus declared, with great honesty, "In this world you will have trouble."  He also spoke of people as blessed and bearers of light.  Our days will vary.

Will our vision vary, also?  Not our eyesight.  Our perspective.  We need to keep our eyes (our perspective) focused on what truly matters.  What truly matters?  God matters.  Since God matters, we need to focus on Him.  Daniel did.

8 Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
    make known among the nations what he has done.
9 Sing to him, sing praise to him;
    tell of all his wonderful acts.
10 Glory in his holy name;
    let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
11 Look to the Lord and his strength;
    seek his face always.
12 Remember the wonders he has done,
1 Chronicles 16:8-12a (NIV)

23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth;
    proclaim his salvation day after day.
24 Declare his glory among the nations,
    his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
25 For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
    he is to be feared above all gods.
26 For all the gods of the nations are idols,
    but the Lord made the heavens.
27 Splendor and majesty are before him;
    strength and joy are in his dwelling place.
28 Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations,
    ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
29 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
    bring an offering and come before him.
    Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.
30  Tremble before him, all the earth!
    The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.
31 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
    let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!”
32 Let the sea resound, and all that is in it;
    let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them!
33 Let the trees of the forest sing,
    let them sing for joy before the Lord,
    for he comes to judge the earth.
34 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his love endures forever.
35 Cry out, “Save us, God our Savior;
    gather us and deliver us from the nations,
    that we may give thanks to your holy name,
    and glory in your praise.”
36 Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
    from everlasting to everlasting.
Then all the people said “Amen” and “Praise the Lord.”
1 Chronicles 16:23-36 (NIV)

In 2020, no matter the quality of your eyesight, focus on God.  He will help you see.

Happy New Year!

#ordinarylives