Perspective, Ordination and a New Year

Our view of objects changes depending upon the angle and direction we look at it. The same is true of our view of life and our purpose as humans on this earth.

As we begin a new year (I realize we're already a week into it) I think it is important we ask ourselves from whose perspective we view our lives - it is easy when I look at my life from my own perspective to see things in terms of hours, dollars, tasks, etc. And when I look at it from that vantage point it can become depressing: not enough hours, not enough dollars and too many tasks.

This past year was a busy one for our family, and not without difficulties pertaining to each of those three categories I just mentioned. Already the new year we have begun promises to be just as busy and will likely bring the same challenges. In a week I will be ordained a priest in Christ's Church and will assume new responsibilities, spiritually and temporally, as I exercise my ministry in this congregation. My wife and I are expecting another baby, meaning come July we will have a fifteen month old and a newborn. We are planning on expanding some existing ministries and starting some new ministries. We still have a house we are trying to sell in a different state. There are still adjustments to a new city, a new church, etc.

Each of those realities deserves my attention, my care, and my diligence. But they are the only the immediate tasks of life. They are not my ultimate purpose. And if I only focus on the immediate tasks, without any consideration my ultimate purpose I can become terribly misguided and terribly frustrated.

To understand my ultimate purpose however, I need a different perspective, I need God's perspective, for he is the one who created me and everything else and he is the one who gives purpose because he is Life himself.

I don't have a complete question about why I exist, but I think it has something to do with union with the Godhead and living in the Kingdom of God, where Jesus Christ reigns as King.

I don't make lists of new year's resolutions because I lack the discipline to keep them and have (at least temporarily) decided to not discourage myself more by adding to failure. But I have determined that this year I am going to seek to see life from God's perspective more, to get a glimpse of my ultimate purpose and the ultimate purpose of all creation through the eyes of the One who created all things.

My prayer for you this New Year is that you would see all of life from God's perspective.

Grace & Peace to You,

Micah