While my mom was in another store and I was waiting, I went over to the book store. I was browsing the Max Lucado books and I saw something like this written in one of them:
It's not problems, but opportunities. (or something close to that- I can't believe I didn't write it down).
People don't bring us problems in life. They bring us opportunities.
Circumstances don't bring us problems in life. They bring us opportunities.
God doesn't bring us problems in life. He brings us opportunities.
It's not about what comes your way- it's about the lens you view it through.
Do you view it as a problem, or as an opportunity?
I didn't read much more than that one quote I tried to list above, but, this is what I think Max means by it.
What is meant by "opportunity"?
When we are presented with what we may call "problems," it is rather opportunity.
Opportunity to..
-Serve-
-Find blessings-
-Share the love of Jesus-
-Grow-
-Spend more time with God-
-Pray-
and the like.
Isn't that awesome? If only I wore that lens more often! As a tie in to this, I want to share some pictures.
I had a little camera for the last 6-7 years that was like a small brick. It was heavy, tiny, and while the photos it produced were fairly decent, it was time for an upgrade.
It was a birthday present. While my birthday is still a week and a half away, my mom gave it to me today while we were shopping.
I really, really, like it. This one has so much greater zoom, focus, etc. I love taking pictures, so I know I'm going to have fun with it. I took it outside, and took a few shots inside of my cats, and it was amazing some of the things I saw through the lens.
My old camera never would have captured these. But I was viewing things through a different lens. And I got a better picture.
So is life. When we use the lens of opportunity, we see so much more. And we get a better picture.
Change your lens.
Here are the photos. Note: These were taken probably with in 10-15 minutes of turning on my camera (not reading any instructions. Please don't judge them- as I learn how to manipulate all of the lenses, options, and buttons, I'm sure more- and more improved quality- photos will come!)
This reminds me of a thought I had last week at work! I was standing up front at the register and this mom came in with her children. They started looking around, and the little girl kept saying, "Mom, look at this!" She must've said about six times in a row before her mom acknowledged her. At first it annoyed me--I wanted the girl to realize that Mom was focused on something else, or that whatever she was looking at really wasn't that amazing. But when I thought about it a little more and realized that kids have such a cool attitude about new things. they're fascinated by the littlest details! I think I need to learn to be like a kid again in my view of the world. :)
ReplyDeleteAlso, I love the pictures of your cats. :)
I like that concept! It reminds me of this quote:
ReplyDelete"Let me ask you something. If someone prays for patience, you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? If he prayed for courage, does God give him courage, or does he give him opportunities to be courageous? If someone prayed for the family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings, or does he give them opportunities to love each other? "
And that last picture of your cat is gorgeous!!
good insights..nice pics...
ReplyDeleteI was reading this thinking, "Oh yeah? What opportunity does the problem of insomnia bring?" And then I read that you wrote, "Spend more time with God." And then I realized that that's exactly what I've been doing this past week when I haven't been able to sleep. I've been reading the Bible more to pass the time, and it's been really good. Insomnia IS an opportunity.
ReplyDeleteThat was my train of thought while reading this.
Nice pictures, too.