Perspective

Perspectives are as varied as the people who hold them.

I’m closing in on half a century’s worth of time on this perpetual revolving trip around the Sun that we call life. As those seconds, minutes, hours, days, and years have sped by, it has become obnoxiously apparent to me that in each of life’s successive seasons I arrive at the understanding that in the previous one, I really didn’t have a clue what I was doing and didn’t know what I thought I knew. I’m sure the more progressed on your trip you are, the more you have the ability to agree with that assertion. With Rod & Staff Outdoor Ministries’ 2nd Annual Archery Shoot still close in the rearview mirror, I’d like to offer some thoughts that highlight the varying perspectives we human critters have along life’s varying stages…

Situation #1 – Before time rolled around for door prizes to be drawn for and passed out, I was approached by a young girl – I’d guess somewhere around the 10 year old mark – who was quite demanding in her desire to know where all the “Kid Prizes” were. On the stage were all sorts of hunting related items to be given away, any of which were equally useful to an adult or child. However, from her child perspective, the lack of Paw Patrol or Hello Kitty emblems equaled “Not for Kids”. Contrast this perspective with the mindset of my good buddy Mike – someone who doesn’t even get to hunt any more but just loves being around the Lord’s people -when he was the recipient of a camouflaged hunting facemask. There were no demands for the “Non-Hunter” prizes – just the humble reception of a gift that cost him nothing. What a difference perspective makes! No wonder the Apostle Paul asserted in 1Corinthians 13:11, “When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.” My goodness, may it be true of us that our perspective changes in this way and we refuse to grow ever older but never wiser!

Situation #2 – The group I shot with included family and friends made up of seasoned archers, extremely rusty archers, and first-time archers. The rusty one was my oldest son, Derrick who at my best calculations hadn’t handled a bow and arrow in about 7 years. In the 12 shot round, he managed to kill a tree, lose an arrow, wound himself from string slap (OUCH!), and shoot consistently inconsistently. From the unaware perspective, one might wonder why he even participated in an archery shoot with that kind of skill. From a dad’s perspective, however, that understands where he is and what he’s been through, there was a glow of pride for a son that’s giving it all he’s got even when it’s not what it used to be or one day will be. Aren’t you thankful that God has a perspective that we never will? As a loving Father, He knows where we are, but faithfully leads us to where He wants us to be. Our job is to Fix our eyes on Jesus – the author and perfecter of our faith, – Hebrews 12:1-2, and trust Him to guide us as He sees what we or anyone else is unable to see!

Situation #3 – I’m not sure how many different churches were represented at this event. The shoot was held at Mt. Hope Baptist Church where my best friend Brian Johnson serves as pastor. The event was staffed with members of First Baptist Church who over and over again give themselves to the Lord’s work through Rod & Staff Outdoor Ministries. The speaker for the event was my good friend Benji Rhame, pastor of Amiable Baptist Church. Helping provide music was Mr. Larry McCullough and Webster McDaniel, members of Zion Baptist Church and West Baptist Church respectively. Participating in the shoot were folks from all sorts of different backgrounds – Baptist, Catholic, Pentecostal, Non-Denominational, etc. And low and behold, we all worked together, enjoyed one another’s company, and had a good time in the Lord. News flash folks – WE’RE NOT IN COMPETITION WITH EACH OTHER – WE’RE IN COOPERATION WITH EACH OTHER FOR GOD’S KINGDOM PURPOSES! Surely the Old Testament prophet spoke a mouthful when He asserted, How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! – Psalm 133:1. May this be a reality more and more as time goes by.

Perspectives are as varied as the people who hold them. You have yours, I have mine, and others have theirs. They may be similar or they may be starkly different – that’s just the way it is. But as followers of Jesus Christ, let us set our minds to refining the discipline of developing the perspective of Jesus in everything – after all, His is the only one that really matters , and Scripture commands us to have His mindset anyway! – Philippians 2:5. So next time our paths cross -maybe on a muddy road in the hunting woods or maybe in canoes as we drift down the old Calcasieu, let’s share our perspectives on the events of life and encourage one another to seek God’s perspective through it all. I’ll see you later – In the Great Outdoors!