That moment.....when you learn there is more to perspective than your own.

Perspective is a funny word to me. Its meaning defined as an outlook...a point of view...position...stance...interpretation. NO where have I found truth, a fact or belief. Yet our own perception in our heart we define as truth. Key word, our own. In the past few years after defending my perspective of many areas in my life I have finally discovered its totally worth defending but does not require explanation. 

Think about things in your own life of times you have spent defending. Now think of the times you have spent attacking someone else's. Maybe the perspective was changed? Maybe not. Does it really matter when your own becomes truth inside your very heart. Now before anyone argues my perspective about truth please understand my definition of truth I work very hard to align with scripture. Its my hearts desire to filter every perspective through the Lords truth. If it doesnt match up, my perspective is wrong. PERIOD! What I am referring to is this point of view and interpretation of life of what we view and disect in lives around us. 

Sure I look around sometimes and think...what in the world are they thinking?!?! Or I so would not choose to do that!! Or WHY this decision...why that decision? WHAT IF....their perspective, after filtered through the truth and a stirring the Lord lays on their heart is so real, so amazing, life changing.....and then your perspective about theirs is as Willy would put it....GARBAGE! I love how the Lord has shown me that my ways are not always the ways of others and theirs mine. Thank the Lord. He puts my own stirring in my own heart. 

I was reminded of this the other day when I came across a stundent going to college. Possibly making a career out of college. I think college is overrated in some cases. (Dont worry...I will refrain from telling your children this so make sure they are not reading) But I do. My heart loves to be home..be a housewife..and love on my boys. Who needs college for that? I did not insert cleaning or cooking. I just love all of the other things in between. Now I could have told this kid my perspective of school being overrated. That one day surely she would want to do all of those things I am doing. Why go through the torture? But she may not. The Lord has something stirring in her heart so great. So far than any other stirring I have ever had about school in mine. Dreams that she has dreamt since a young child. That probably her parents encouraged her and have walked with her every step of the way. So how GARBAGE would that be of me to tell her how ridiculous my perspective is. 

So the perspective as a college student, a kid, an adult, an elderly person....Its a point of view..a stand...a position...an attitude...and it becomes the beating in their chest. 

The moment I realized this it was freeing! And it allowed everyone else in my mind to be free. I am still a work in progress. Every once in a while when someone throws their perspective out there I start sweating under my arms, my heart beats a little faster, I may feel like I want to clock them one... but I am reminded....There is a reason. They don't have my same stirring.

Since I have been running alot these days I will use a picture of how perspective can sometimes be false. 

In this picture you see a timed 3 mile run. It looks great. Cat like speed that day.....

AND heres why.....


  In the picture below you see clouds. It doesnt look too bad right? What you dont catch are these things. Lightening. Thunder. The sweet smell of rain. My car being 3 miles away and my phone battery going dead. I was fearful. Therefore, it made me have a little more pep in my step than any other day. 

This reminds me so often how we view the lives of others. Much like a picture. We create opinions. We find faults. We find "perfection". Our perspective, our own "truth" becomes theirs. 

Take a chance of getting to know those around you. You will either find your perspective is in fact true...if not..either way you are truly able to define the truth in a picture of their lives.  
So just because you can not make others around you like puppets, never underestimate what you can learn from watching them. 

When my college friend graduates I will be so incredibly proud of her. She has worked so hard. She has dedicated every ounce of her being to become the very best version of herself. If one day she decides shes ready to start a family and wants to stay at home I will still be her biggest cheerleader. If not I will be her biggest cheerleader watching her in her career because I love and care for her so much.

Be an encourager. Help build up others around you because chances are some knot head is shredding them to pieces. Make your pictures of your life be exactly what your living. Be true to yourself and always know if your perspective changes from everything youve done your entire life thus far you are living with much excitement and continued growth. The Lord created us for life. Life changes. Through the ages, through the seasons. Perspective changes. Let him use you in showing others how his way is not a cookie cutter for everyone to be the shape you want. And always remember sometimes sharing a negative one...tearing down, never building up....can leave you looking like a donkey.

That moment when....You Run YOUR Race

My most favorite picture of Mom and Dad

Sunday will mark a year since we learned of Dad's diagnosis. It came as a shock. "Neuro degenerative disease"...What?!?!? I remember mom telling me the words while I was finishing up with my last patient of the day. To say I lost it would be an understatement. It devastated me to the core. There were still many tests to be run. Trying to find anything but. Its such a horrible diagnosis. One of the test they ran they prepared us that it could be a type of cancer that brings along brain atrophy. I prayed it would be cancer and so were the nuerologists. I knew that Dad could and would fight it. But that is not what the Lord had planned. The next months following were the craziest roller coaster ride of my life. The day after... I got vertigo... and well....that's another blog in itself. It was AWFUL. I sat on the couch for 12 VERY LONG days with severe vomiting and dizziness like no body's business. I think it was for the simple fact I could not bother Mom and Dad while they tried to process it all. 12 VERY LONG days and MANY conversations with the Lord. I am SO very thankful for those 12 days for I know they were a blessing. 

My Daddy and Favorite Sister

Part of my coping, when I actually could get off of the couch became running. I had run a few years prior and simply got bored with it. This go around it has been much different. It became stress relief. My time to run off frustration and fear. There were plenty in the beginning that were mad runs. Fast, mad runs. Then became my favorite runs. I started using the time of running as my quiet time. Maybe not what you consider "quiet time".  I used to believe that my quiet time with the Lord had to be spent in a "Godly" chair. In a warm painted room, by a window with a bird feeder.  Can I just share with you....In the past year I have had THE MOST AMAZING times of worship in the HOT, blistering sun with breaks under the most amazing oaks. With sweat running out of every pore of my skin. Struggling to breath and my hammer toe SCREAMING for help. It has taught me a couple of lessons that I think the world should know. 

The first one is The Lord does not live in a box on a shelf to be taken off every Sunday to be able to worship him and stand in awe of the life he has given to you to point others towards him. He can use the things that you love. Your gifts and talents. He can use the things that you despise. The things that hurt. The things that require discipline. You're worst night mare. Your most hidden sin. He can use it all. Anywhere and anytime. If you're willing. 

The second one revolves around the word discipline. Most times we treat this as such a terrible word. A word that is tied to rebellion and consequences. Discipline is not always tied to those things. Discipline in most cases may even help avoid consequences. 

This has become my most favorite spot to run as the sun goes down. Its a wide opened field. With hay bales... cow birds.. and even a few donkeys. A few months ago on a run...actually the day I took this picture I heard voices in my head. (Do not judge) It was Melissa talking to Melissa. If that doesn't happen to you maybe you're the crazy one. However I had this strange thought of running a Marathon. I know...I said the same thing. No.. Never..Swore I would never..that's stupid.. not smart...that's horrible for your body. Those were the things I was discussing with myself back and forth. For 3 miles. And then it hit me..WHY NOT??!?!?!?! I have legs and feet. I can train and accomplish one of those "things" many people do in life. Why? I'm not sure but here are my reasons. Because most of my runs I meet with the Lord...why would the discipline and training be so painful. Yes.. it will be at times physically exhausting, but spiritually can overcome ANYTHING physically. 

Hebrew 12:11-13No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.

Next week starts my training. When you see me running know that it is for a few reasons. One is my time with him. I treasure it. And when Im running he is there. The other reason I will be running this marathon is for my daddy. When I run I pray for him so much. I pray that this diagnosis even though its part of the disciplining that is not always fun, it helps us all rely on the giver and creator of our very own lives. My daddy has rallied for me. Now I run for him. He has run the most amazing race during his life this far and I know he is just beginning to live for the purpose of what God has created him for. So please pray I keep strength in my knees and the path for my feet becomes strong. 

The third lesson and most dangerous is perspective. I have fallen trap in this area before. Perspective is a word that sometimes comes with too much weight. Thinking our own is the only one. That there is truth to it. Which is simply true when its your perspective. In your own heart.

My perspective of discipline, watching people live through life's roller coaster rides and the direction they take for their own has changed in the past few years. All because the Lord has shown me that he comes into our lives and works in ways indescribable. Don't fall into the danger of keeping him in that box and definitely don't judge someone else's perspective. This is their race...you have yours...RUN IT! I am still confused at how I got here and how my perspective has changed but Im embracing its awesomeness. 

Hebrews 12:1-2

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

This was my favorite song from todays run. Blog inspired.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UY5_jMdELnw