You know, for most of my life I have been pretty indifferent about acorns. I haven’t really spent any time in my life thinking about acorns. I haven’t given any consideration about how acorns can be used. I don’t know if I have even ever written the word “acorn” until this moment. It’s not like I didn’t like acorns… it’s just… well… who thinks about acorns… unless you are a squirrel? Until this year.
It must have been a banner year for acorns because I have TONS of acorns in my lawn. I have spent hours using a large squeegee to push acorns into piles and have literally hauled wheelbarrows of them out of my yard. Do you have any idea what it is like to walk down a steep grassy hill that is completely covered in acorns? Well… have you ever tried to walk on marbles? Ben Keefer probably is quite skilled at that… but I most certainly am not! I hope there isn’t any video of me slipping on rolling acorns with my arms flailing wildly about — because it has happened more than once! Stupid acorns. More than once my mower has shot one out from under the mower deck and then it has ricocheted off of a tree and whizzed by my head like a bullet!
So this fall I have moved from being indifferent about acorns… to not really liking them much at all! Isn’t it funny how much perspective can effect our experience of something? I mean, you probably haven’t spent much time thinking about acorns in your life either… but when an experience changes our perspective — well… suddenly we have a whole new viewpoint of whatever is in front of us.
Last week I was sicker than I have ever been in my life. Even as I write
this pondering, I am still trying to kick whatever this thing is — two weeks later. A week ago Thursday, I was laying on the couch in our basement family room… far removed from the rest of the family so as to not spread my germs. I was miserable, lonely and even a bit discouraged because I had been sick for a week and wasn’t any better. After a fit of coughing, I closed my eyes and spent some time praying… asking God for a healing touch… again… and then it occurred to me to ask God… “Lord, what do you want to teach me in this experience?” Do you know what came to my mind in that quiet moment? Perspective.
You see, the reality is, whatever this virus might be, my body is actually in the process of ridding itself of it. Each day this week I have been a bit better and I can fully visualize a time where this illness will be behind me. Miserable in the moment? You bet. Feeling gratitude for my future healing? Absolutely! I realize my sickness has been a relatively short-lived thing… but perspective helps me understand that many people are facing far more serious health issues… big issues… where future health is not a certainty. So perspective has helped me pray a bit more fervently for folks. Perspective has helped me to want to seek God’s healing for others more eagerly. Perspective has created a fresh empathy for those walking wounded. And perspective has helped me yet again express my gratitude to Jesus that there is coming a day where sickness will be no more. Sometimes a little perspective is a really good thing.
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