Upside Down

I got totally sucked into a puzzle this past week. My in-laws had started one and left it on the table, and when I found it there were about 300 pieces left to fit together. It was one of those tricky ones where everything looks the same and the pieces are about the size of your thumb nail. It was totally addicting and completely annoying. Eventually, Matt came to my aid and we finished it before the week was out. Along the way I had a little revelation, though, which seemed to make it worth my while.

There were several times when I found myself at a complete standstill. I would search and search for the right piece until I had myself convinced that it was missing altogether. . . and then the strangest thing would happen. I would stand up and walk around to the other side of the table - and suddenly everything seemed so clear. In the first 10 seconds of looking at it upside down I would usually find at least 3 pieces that I had all but given up on 5 minutes earlier. It was (as I said before) an addicting and altogether annoying experience. But it reminded me of life, and how similar it is when we are in the midst of life's stresses and struggles.

In my last post I talked about the criticizm that we receive in life. We will always have critics, and there will continually be those in our midst who question anything that seems different from tradition and convention. So how do we know when to fall back and surrender or when to march forward and fight? When is it ok to say "I'm sorry you feel that way, but I believe this is exactly what God is asking of me right now?" Well, one way to reach that point is to take a look at things upside down.

Sometimes we need to move to a different angle and seek to understand the situation from that new and different vantage point. There will be times when we conclude that our original plans and theories were off, and we need to step back and reconsider. But there will also be times when we see the truthfulness and validity or our ideas - and it is then that we can run after them with total zeal and passion. . .

I am glad that I have critics. It forces me to look deeply at my life and my philosophies. It gives me greater motivation to study the life of Jesus and word of God, so that I can always respond to those who disagree and discourage me along the way. I hope that you know what you believe - and why you believe it. . . and I hope that you are totally convinced that it is completely, wholely, and eternally true. That confidence and assurance makes all the difference when you face the arguments of your critics.

But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

1 Peter 3:14-16