LONGING FOR GOD’S PERSPECTIVE, DAY FIVE

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
Tuesday, March 26th

I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, on the basis of God’s mercy, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable act of worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. ~ Romans 12:1-2

Paul’s words of instruction, written long ago, are so timely and necessary for today. This is a time to truly consider how I might renew my mind, transform my thoughts, and no longer be conformed to this age, my usual ways of living and being. I hope you recognize this, too. For I was recently both alarmed and inspired by this insight from human rights lawyer, Payam Akhavan on the podcast, “Soul Boom” with Rainn Wilson:

World peace is not only possible, it’s inevitable. The problem is that we’re holding on to divisive, myopic, materialistic ideologies that are inconsistent with the reality of the oneness of humankind. The question is whether we will achieve it through a common vision or only after unimaginable catastrophes leave us with no other choice. Climate change is the game changer and those leaders that today are saying that this is a hoax, they will be answerable to history. We will transform our patterns of thought and behavior because we have no choice. That is what our collective survival requires. *  

As climate protections, social services, human rights provisions, global alliances, health care organizations, and public education are being undone in this country, many of us are distraught and bewildered by the careless, vengeful disregard for our planet and for one another. We all need to change our ways–and soon–because this is “what our collective survival requires.”

But Justin Hall (American journalist, entrepreneur, and blogger) names one perspective that hinders us from doing what we can: It’s this perspective of us as humans to look at our world through the lens of ‘normal’ [that] is one of the forces that stops us developing real solutions.

As challenging as this might be, we are called to “not be conformed to this age” (our lens of normal). Giving up our normal perspective is to rethink and adapt our usual ways of living, to look beyond ourselves to the needs of others, and to reexamine our biases, history, and culture for beliefs that do not hold true. Giving up our normal perspective is to embrace “the reality of the oneness of humankind,” as Payam calls it, and together, work to save our global community and life itself. Giving up our normal perspective is to have the courage to steward the earth by living more simply, to find gifts in community over consumerism, to foster understanding over fear, and to live with holy, humble integrity.

When we live in faith, this desperate imperative is our sacred and delightful invitation. When we live with an eternal perspective, we find joy in pursuing the things that are good, acceptable, and perfect; we cherish the gifts of kindness, compassion, generosity, and love; we need only the precious gifts of God that will last forever. With an eternal perspective, our lives become more peaceful, joyful, and hopeful–while we also contribute to the saving of our world.

* https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/soulboom?selected=LLUOO4976248041
(Photo by Karen)