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Perspective Changes the View

There's an old saying that you're either in a storm, going into a storm, or coming out of a storm.  Depending on which phase you're in changes your perspective of things.  Our Sunday school lessons over the past few weeks have focused on suffering and attempting to understand it from a godly perspective.

One of the most difficult moments of my life made no sense at the time.  However, as time has passed, my perspective has changed and I can better understand how God really was at work in a challenging time.

Sunday, June 5, 2011 started out like many other Sundays before it.  However, it's a day that would change our family forever.  That morning, I got up and went to church like I did most Sundays.  Near the start of preaching, I was asked to go check on Mama (my grandma) since she was supposed to pick a friend up for church and hadn't shown up and didn't answer her phone.  Old people are slow and if you didn't let the phone ring 15 times, she may not make it so I didn't think much of it.

I told a friend, "Let me run over there, I'll be right back."  I didn't make it back to church.  Sometime earlier that morning, Mama had taken her last breath - with her church clothes on which was oh so fitting.

In those moments, nothing about the situation seemed fair.  Why her?  Why me?  Why now?  Why like this?  The only perspective I had that day was the one where I could see the loss we had suffered.

But during the days, weeks, and months ahead, a different perspective began to emerge.  Mind you, it didn't change the situation, but it changed how we viewed it.  Living just around the corner, I couldn't tell you how many times I had to go fix her remote or TV (thanks cable).  But I can tell you exactly how many times she ever called me to help carry in groceries.  One - that Saturday.

As the family began reminiscing, we discovered that she had talked with nearly every one of us that weekend.  Was this the norm?  I don't know, but it had happened then.

And imagine how hard it would have been for one of her daughters (my aunt) living hours away to get this news and make that trek alone.  But no, God wouldn't have that - all three of her daughters were together at the beach.  He had orchestrated this plan well in advance because He knew the timing of what was to come.

My current perspective has not changed the situation.  Mama is still gone from this earth and reunited with Papa in heaven.

My perspective has not changed the hurt I experienced at the time...nothing will.  Time doesn't heal all wounds but we train ourselves to deal with it better.

My perspective has not answered all of my questions.  I still don't have all the answers to my 'Why?' questions, but I have gained enough clarification from God that I can better understand and accept it.  And I certainly can better trust Him now for any future storms that may come up.

None of us know when our next storm is coming.  But if you will trust God, you can know the One who has the power to calm the winds.
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