Perceptions

I've been thinking a lot about the phenomenon of perception.  

It rocks my world to think about a person experiencing the same moment in time and space and coming away with completely different experiences, largely due to how each person perceives the scenario and also factoring in our differing history which is what shapes our perception.

Could I really just put on different glasses and see this painful moment as just any other moment in time?  Could it be as simple as changing perspectives?  I'm beginning to believe it is so.

I'm surrounded by a bazillion religious ideologies here in Chiangmai.  It's fun for me to be outside of it all and just watch.  I feel like I can almost read people's perceptions of God, devil, people, life, ministry just by how they are interacting with the world around them.  Most of it feels so very heavy and burdensome and fearful.  

My perceptions have been shifting in the last several years concerning religious ideologies.  I've decided those heavy perceptions don't work for me anymore.  And if it's as easy as shifting a perception to be able to experience a different aspect of the world and God than I was experiencing before, then count me in.  I think that's what it means when it says, "We are transformed by the renewing of our minds."  

If you've never read the children's book, "Harold and the Purple Crayon," it's a must for everyone of any age.  Harold has his little purple crayon and instead of going to bed, he draws pictures on his wall and steps into them.  When he draws himself into a predicament, all he has to do is X out the picture and draw a new one.  Waalaa. . . . a new perception!  

I have several perceptions that I'm working on drawing new pictures for.  I'm ready to have some new perceptions of men, of marriage, of womanhood.  I am after Abundant Life. I am after Truth.  I am after Unconditional Love.  I am after Freedom.  I will paint those pictures on my wall and step in.  

Happy Picture Drawing! 

"If all your thinking has brought you to a place you don't like, have another thought! It could just be the making of you."  - Graham Cooke