Personal Perspective

on March 14, 2011 by Walt Dilg

Personal Perspective

When I was first in the Galilee, some 4 years ago, it was spring time, flowers were blooming and the air was fresh and clear.  I got some beautiful photographs of the sunrise over the Sea of Galilee, boats bobbing on the water, green hillsides beyond the blue water.  I cherish these images.  This year during our trip the sky was  mostly overcast when we were up in the Galilee.  It was hard to see the other side of the lake let alone the rolling hills.  When we took our boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, we were surrounded by mist, almost a fog.  

As I apologized for what they were missing due to the mist, I came to realize I was missing what they were appreciating in the mist.  My awareness of what they were not seeing got in the way of my catching on to what they were seeing.  The mist provided the travelers with a special sense of mystery and timelessness.  Bible stories about Jesus and the disciples on the Sea of Galilee came alive for them.  The mist aided their religious imagination and eased the way for Jesus to come to them, then, out there on the Lake.  What seemed to me to be a moment lacking, was for many a ripe time of transcendence that they will cherish always.  

It was a lesson of perspective for me.  We see what we see colored by the lenses or context through which we look.  When we don't take the time to imagine how others might be viewing something we end up the less for it.