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We have heard people talk about seeing the world through “rose colored glasses” and the idea of ignoring the harsh reality around us. I think we might agree though, that is not the way most people actually view the world.

Many of us see the world and the people in it as if we are looking through a dirty windowpane. Many times, we jump to conclusions, become easily frustrated by, or simply assume the worst about situations and other people’s intensions. It feels at times, like we are all living on the defensive.

There is a great deal of tension in the world for one reason or another. There is tension over political standings, religious beliefs, personal rights or societal changes, just to name a few; that have tied us into tight springs ready to pounce.

Paul said in Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”

Read that again….

Does that stop you in your tracks a little bit? If it doesn’t you might need to read it again.

When you’ve read it a few times, ask yourself, “Is that how I think?” “Is that how I engage every situation?” “Is that how I handle things that frustrate me or make me angry?”

“What am I dwelling on?”

We live in a world that holds a magnifying glass to everything that is wrong, not only in the world, but in each other. We often take offense to the smallest gesture or the slightest misunderstanding. We make assumptions and accusations before sifting through to seek the whole story.

We spin narratives based on our hurt feelings or misguided perspectives and then invite other people to live in our false narrative with us; not thinking for a moment that perhaps we don’t have the whole picture or the correct perspective.

We often “dwell” on all the wrong we see, while completely missing the loveliness and excellence that Paul is pointing out.

When we allow ourselves to dwell in this way our mind becomes like a festering wound. If you’ve ever seen or had a festering wound, you know what that looks and feels like. It’s a wound that has become infected and over time becomes red and raw. It can fill with puss and become very sensitive to the touch.

Paul knew that if we do not pay attention to the direction our minds go, we too can become festering raw wounds, sensitive to the world around us. Our Spirit becomes infected when we let feelings fester, or we continue to “dwell” on all that is wrong instead of the things worthy of praise.

In Ephesians 4:1-4 Paul says “I a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.”

What are you “dwelling” on today? Is there a wound that needs tending to? Have you become inflamed and sensitive to the slightest interaction or situation? Are you looking at the world and the people in it through a dirty windowpane that needs some cleaning?

There are bad things in the world. There are people who do heinous and hurtful things. Don’t think that Paul didn’t understand that. What Paul’s saying here is that we shouldn’t focus on those things.  Paul’s showing us that even in a world filled with brokenness there still is beauty. Even in a world filled with pain there still is blessings. Even in a world filled with difficulty there is still hope.

How do we change our perspective? We “dwell” on the beauty, blessings and hope. We try to be more patient with each other, making allowances for each other’s faults.

Why? Paul says, “Because of our love.”

Is something festering within you today? Ask yourself a few questions…

“Do I know the whole story?”

“Have I lost my patience?”

“Am I giving people the benefit of the doubt or am I jumping to conclusions?”

Take a breath and sit with Paul’s words to reset your perspective.

“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything, worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”

You will find when you approach the world and the people in it while applying Paul’s direction, your perspective will change.

You’ll start to see the good intensions behind the misspoken words.

You’ll start to see the well-meaning hearts behind the frustrating situation.

You’ll start to see the people, who just like you, are trying to do the best they can.

When you start to do that it’s like stepping back from a stained-glass window. You’ll see the bigger picture coming together. You’ll see the pieces coming together to become a beautiful image instead of the individual pieces of broken glass.

We are all just broken pieces of glass coming together to make a picture. Some of our edges might be rough and our corners sharp, but we also have the ability to allow the light to shine through us casting a beautiful glow over the world and the people around us.  We do that when we “dwell” on the right things.

“For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.”-Ephesians 4:4

 

-Pastor Patti