Perspective

Lately I've been trying to keep life in better perspective, and (big surprise!) it genuinely helps. It's funny how you can "know" something but not really know it. And that's how it's been with me and perspective. But I guess it was my time for a change, because two things met together and resulted in this change in perspective.

The first thing that happened is I went to a funeral for a young woman, a mother of three. We hadn't seen her in years, since she was a teen. I felt incredibly devastated for her children but also for her...not being able to be there and guide her children into adulthood. But from every account, she did not complain and she did not ask "Why?" during the eight and a half years she battled brain cancer. In fact, she asked, "Why not me?" I left her funeral truly ashamed of myself. I always ask why. Why is my washing machine broken? Why is there a leak in my basement? Why does my car need to be repaired? Why are my kids sick? Why have things been so hard for so long? Why do I have financial problems? Why? Why? Why?

As I was mulling all of this over, I read a story about a place in Africa where woman have been routinely and systematically raped. They can't leave their homes to find food for their children without a good likelihood of being raped. I can't possibly conceive of living in such circumstances, of being presented with such a dilemma day after day. The need to get food for your children balanced against the strong possibility of being raped. Again. How can this be? How can the world contain such evil?

Somehow these two situations collided in my mind and produced a healthier perspective on life. If my kids get sick, at least i am here with them, to take care of them and comfort them. If my appliances or car need to be repaired, well, at least I have appliances and a car. At least I can go to the store and get the food I need for my family without the fear of being raped. And I have money for food. I have that. I'm hoping this new perspective sticks around.