Do You Have What It Takes?

3/1/24

Perspective-(noun) mental view or prospect; visible scene; interrelation in which a subject or it’s parts are mentally viewed; the capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance…Merriam-Webster

I was speaking with someone and mentioned spiritual gifts. I have always been the one to help the injured, broken and sick, animals and humans alike. I worked in vet medicine, emergency medical response/first responder, an addictions counselor and I have served many years as a sponsor/mentor in 12 step programs. I can’t even begin to count the strangers that tell me things they’ve “…never told anyone before” but there was “just something about [me]”. And, much to my mother’s dismay, I was always dragging something or someone home that was in need. Early on I remember wanting to be a healer, you know the kind that puts their hand on you and says “be healed” and it is so. It hit me one day, years later that I am indeed a healer. I wanted to be something I already was! The problem was what I thought it should look like. My perspective.

In Acts 2 it speaks of the Day of Pentecost “ and they began to speak in other tongues…because each one heard the speaking in their own language…”. I remember thinking to myself “that would be cool; folks might make fun of me so I don’t want to do it  but it would still be cool”. While I realize that this is really about specific languages, I’ve come to understand that even subcultures have their own “languages”. I’ve been told more than once that I’m mean because of how others have heard me speak to some. Hate to burst your bubble but some of us need tough, hard talk before we will consider you worth listening to. Anything any nicer and we consider you weak and see you like prey, much like a squeaky toy with a high prey drive dog. It’s usually more about how we can we manipulate you to enable us than outright bashing you and taking what we want. You must speak the language like those very people  we are rebelling against, AUTHORITY. Ironic huh? This isn’t to say there isn’t a time for a comforting word and softer voice but that is not our norm. So, once again I can do something that I wanted to do (albeit with less than pure motives). Yet again, my perspective.

Now in this time of social media and watching “influencers”, the Id (the impulsive, pleasure driven part of one’s personality)  thinks “oh THAT would be really cool!”.Then this little tap on my Id said “um, I really hate to break it to you but don’t you think that’s kinda common?” the Id answered it back “um NO!”. Then the chuckle from the internal peanut gallery (known as the ego) while the superego (judgemental/morally correct part of one’s personality) rolls it’s eyes. Feeling a little internally mocked and humiliated I asked the peanut gallery “what are you laughing at”? Let me just say if you’ve never been internally humiliated by the peanut gallery of your ego, it ain’t for the easily offended or faint of heart. Through laughter it was saying “EVERYONE ON THE PLANET IS AN INFLUNECER”. Well son of a monkey! It’s truly all about perspective.

So, as you sit and dream of being whomever or whatever, consider your perspective. Do you have what it takes to be challenged in how you see yourself and others? Do you have what it takes to set a new course on your perspectives?