Perspectives
- Austin Hadley
- Apr 26, 2020
- 5 min read
Perspectives dictate many things in our lives. They can dictate how we feel about someone we know, how we view a certain situation, and even the choices that we make.
If you've ever watched an ant run around, they seem to be moving around really quickly! However, take a car and drive it at the speed of an ant (roughly .11 MPH), and you'll barely notice that you're moving. Has the speed of the object changed? No, but your perspective on that speed has.
You may ask why I'm saying this. No, it doesn't mean that I've spent the past hour watching ants like a crazy scientist. Rather, I've been thinking about how to reflect on something and God brought this approach to mind.
Today would have been Timmy's fourth birthday, and so this tribute post will be one of my ways of reflecting. After all, through the events surrounding Timmy and his short but sweet life, I began writing, was encouraged to consider it as a degree, and am currently only two weeks from completing year one of a Professional Writing degree, so it's only fitting that I try and honor him with what small level of writing talent I possess.
Timmy's life and the bitter ending of it have shown me many things about the different perspectives we can have. For example, when Timmy was at home on medical equipment, the normal Hadley household quickly changed and slowly adapted to a "new normal" that was constantly changing in various ways. I will admit to not liking elements of it, such as the clash between my work times and Timmy's sleeping time. As I would get ready and eat breakfast before leaving at six o'clock for my day job, I had to keep silent as Timmy and Mom or Dad or all three were in the next room sleeping, and had doubtless slept little if at all. When coming home from my evening job between eleven o'clock and midnight I had to try to put stuff away silently as well. I resented the effort that this took at times and definitely struggled with being grateful.
That was my perspective then.
As of right now I would trade my better sleep schedule and the ability to make more noise for all that medical equipment and Timmy in a heartbeat. That huge smile he had, his giggle, and his handsome little face were worth far more than some meager physical struggles on my behalf.
That is my perspective now.
The new normal came with a new diet for us. We dropped almost all desserts and breads and avoided germs like the plague to avoid conveying any illness to Timmy. I was honestly shocked at how long we went without illness in the house. If I remember correctly it was many months without so much as a cold. I'll admit to not enjoying the reduced sugars and the impressive baking that can come from the talent in my family. I loved sweets and I didn't enjoy missing out on them.
That was my perspective then.
Currently I would drop all sweets, breads, and anything else to help keep his frail little body from getting sick. Trading some selfish physical desires for him again would be an easy choice.
That is my perspective now.
"I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works." - Psalm 9:1
I re-read Timmy's life verse during my quiet time today and was challenged to praise God and honor him with this post. Our prayer was that Timmy's life, no matter which path it took, would result in God receiving the glory. As I write this post I pray that my words would glorify my heavenly Father, and that others would see this and glorify God as a result.
The perspectives I had versus the perspectives I have now are greatly differing. I can view the same situation and honestly desire to have a tougher situation now in exchange for my brother, but at the time I struggled with it at the time. Why is that? I didn't know what God had in store, and I chose to complain about the situation He had placed me in, despite His promise to always do what is best for me and for His plan for my life. Today I am challenged to take a look at my situation. What am I complaining about now that I have no business doing so?
"I have to practice social distancing."
Yes, I could complain about that, but I don't know what God is doing through this. My prayer is that He would use it in many different ways. I'm specifically asking Him that many churches, including my own, would use this time of distance to evaluate their relationships inside the church, and that when this is lifted they would value each other more than pre-social distancing guidelines.
"I can't go out and about as much as I used to."
True, I can't. However, I've already seen two benefits to this. First of all, as I examined my budget recently, I realized how much I've found it easy to not be spending money on frivolous things. Secondly, I have been able to spend a lot of time with my siblings that I probably won't be able to once summer hits and I begin full-time work.
"I had to transition to online schooling."
I'm still not seeing any benefits to this, but I also know that God sometimes works behind the scenes. I have been able to trust Him for the questions that have been answered already, and I shouldn't stop now just because I don't understand one minute detail of His extraordinary plan. I need to trust His wisdom and focus on what He has left me to do.
I pray that you can see how a change of circumstances can change your perspective on most trials, no matter the size of the trial. I had the unfortunate blessing of being able to see what my life is like without my brother and the inconveniences that came with it. Take my word for it that you don't always want to know what the flip-side of your coin looks like. Instead, try to evaluate your circumstances and see what God is doing for you through them, and how you can praise Him through the situation that He has placed you in.
I have many more examples, and many other reasons to appreciate your current circumstances, but I fear I would put you to sleep with the boring intricacies of my life.
Today as I seek to honor God through my honoring of my little brother, I'm evaluating my circumstances and thanking God for the things that He has given me, even if I don't appreciate all the aspects of each situation. If Timmy had a part in your life in some way, no matter the size, I ask you to do the same.
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