Perspective

 

M

el and Jim were driving down the road to town when they reached a turn that headed them into the low afternoon sun.

“This is terrible,” exclaimed Mel. “The sun is right in my eyes.”

“Mine, too,” said Jim, “but it’s not so bad.”

“What do you mean?” demanded Mel. “I can barely see. And the light hurts my eyes.”

“Yes, but that means you have eyes. Eyes that can see. Aren’t you happy that you aren’t blind?”

“Well, I guess so. But why does this road have to go right in the direction of the sun?”

“Because it’s going to town and we are fortunate enough to have a reliable vehicle, time, money, and purpose for going along this road into town. We have homes to leave and to return to.”

“But the sun—“

“Brings us a new day each day and a new night each night, in a country where we are free to drive around without having to show our travel papers every five miles, or be questioned about our business.”

 

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X Whenever you experience a loss, have an accident or injury, or just grow irritated over heavy traffic, think of how many blessings you have that render your discomfort comparatively meaningless.

X Light—such as light from the sun—provides a metaphor for revealing truth. The truth is there, but our prejudices suppress it. We put the light under a basket because we are afraid of what we might see if we hold it up high.

 

To light a candle is the supreme act of courage.

 

vvv

 

Questions for Thought and Discussion

1. Think of the way many people lived even just a hundred years ago and how many appliances, tools, and other luxuries they lacked.  Do you think we complain more or less than they did about how “difficult” life is?

 

Vocabulary