Check your i-sight

Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose." I write with a heavy heart today. I’ve encountered and had many conversations with struggling students and struggles in my own personal relationships; not to mention the gloom of the overall layout of today’s current events. It is important to note that while I write about positive and inspirational things, this, perspective and lens that I have, came at a price. I’ve experienced a lot of heartache and pain in life, some of which are self-inflicted wounds from mistakes that I’ve made and some are completely circumstantial. My writings are about things that I’ve learned and things that I have chosen to take away from the many events of my life: some good, some bad, and some self-inflicted. It is my hope, as you read what I share each week, that you are aware these rose-colored lenses are bought at a large price. I am thankful for my Christ centered lens that allows me to see that all things work together for His good. Even if I don't SEE it right away...I can trust it. I desire that what I share inspires you to see life with a similar lens. We all have our pair of glasses, lenses,…our perception on how we see the world. We can’t choose our prescription, our life circumstances—the environments we live in; the tragedies, heartaches, and pains we endure; or the successes, blessings, and favor we encounter. Our prescription is inherited and likely changes over time, and many times it gets worse. Our lens on life is what we choose to do with that prescription. Our lens can enhance our life. It helps us to see things more vividly and clearly. Your prescription gives it an honest fair view, but it’s what you choose to do with that view that defines the tint of your lens. Sure you may get a scratch on the lens, but it only becomes noticeable if you focus on it. We need to look past flaws and see the whole picture. This goes for how you view another person as much as it does your life circumstances. Your support system—your family, friends, confidants—can help to hold up your lens when you feel like you can’t do it. We can always choose what our frames look like. Who do you surround yourself with? Who lifts you up and supports you in times of adversity, trials, and failures? Find your Aaron and Hur (the two that held Moses arms up Exodus 17:12-14). Frames can be cute and stylish while still being functional and serving their purpose-haha! Our handicap, prescription, does not have to define our perception. Our lens HAS TO contain our prescription. Our success HAS TO contain our failures. Our heartaches come from knowing the blessings and joys. To understand happiness, you have to experience sadness. The level that you experience something will be directly opposite to the inverse reaction. It is Newton’s third law. Every action has an EQUAL and OPPOSITE reaction. I have a deep appreciation for life because I have been through some very difficult things. I have plenty of scratches on my lenses, but when I look at the whole picture and focus on EVERYTHING around me, the scratch no longer affects my view. I get smudges. I have to wipe them clean every now and then. Sometimes I'm the cause of the smudges or the scratches. It may be from readjusting the position or dropping them (as life often does to us), but I am able to dust them off and wipe them clean. I am thankful for the grace in my life. For the forgiveness from others. For it is these things that help keep my lenses clean and refreshed. I would not have the freedom to see through this lens without the gift of Jesus Christ. He wipes my lens crystal clear...He wipes away all that sin away.

I write each week not to sound like life is all butterflies and rainbows...I write each week to remind you of the process of the butterfly and rainbow. That there has to be a storm...rain...to get to the rainbow. There has to be a caterpillar, a cocoon, a painful metamorphosis to get the butterfly. Embracing the process and choosing to see the beauty out of it is what life is all about. This is what determines what color your lens is. Life is indeed, full of butterflies and rainbows. Processes unfolding waiting to reveal the beauty. Are you ready to see it? Don't miss it. Life is all about what we choose to focus on. Always. All ways. It's the paradox that life teaches and shows us. The very fabric of our being is woven with this fact. The science of it all breaks down into the smallest particle that we are all made of—the atom—it contains both positive and negative charges. The emotions that we see, feel, and experience contain polarities. We would all walk around absolutely numb if we did not have the experience of both ends of the spectrum. Respect the process. Embrace the grind. Mistakes are made... give yourself grace. Your setbacks--self-inflicted or not--can be set ups if you have the right lens on. Do not merely focus on yourself; as a result, you will suffer from poor i-sight. See the whole picture. See others for their beauty--flaws included. Give yourself the same grace. Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Don't allow the worldly vision to distort your lens. Don’t miss the beauty.

Allow yourself to really see how far you've come. How your life circumstances have defined you so far. Don't like something you see?--make tiny changes every day to work toward who you want to become. See the butterfly but understand the metamorphosis. At times, it may be uncomfortable, but it will be worth it in the end. EYE don't know about you, but I am thankful for where I am and am excited about where EYE am going. EYE will continue to set my mind, body, soul, heart, and eyes on Christ. I may falter, but by the Grace of God as my support system to hold my lens in, I can focus on the unseen. Don't let the “seen” be the scratch that takes away your focus on the magic, mystery, and miracles (the unseen) of our Creator. He works daily. Don't miss it. 2 Corinthians 4:18 As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.