There’s an old expression for people who always choose to see things in a positive light. We say that they see the world through rose-colored glasses. And the phrase is generally used in a dismissive way. We chuckled and speak as though this view of the world is unrealistic and childish.
But what if we all chose to see the world, and especially each other, through rose-colored, or even better, through God-colored glasses? What would that look like?
Would we jump to the conclusion that an unkind word was simply a misunderstanding and forgive the other person as a matter of course? Would we see only the beauty and none of the scars when we look into each other’s faces? Perhaps we’d assume that all the actions people take with regard to us are taken in our best interest, with only pure motives.
Would we see each other fail, or fall, and have only compassion, reaching out immediately to pick each other up and help each other walk more steadily next time? Would our conversations be not about “who said who did what,” but instead be a celebration of all that’s good and right in that person? Would we lack the ability to remember the faults and mistakes and remember only the best?
Would we focus on all that we have in common, letting our differences fade in that light? Would we understand that “different” is not the same as “wrong?” if we chose to the world through God-colored glasses?
Anonymous said…
Seeing the world around us and others through "god-colored glasses" would have to start with the premise that there's a nicer god out there than the one most of us have been raised with. For example, I sure wouldn't want to see anything anymore through god-colored glasses that had any shadings of the mormon god in them. :-) Or the catholic one for that matter.
Compassionate-colored glasses are kind of nice.
Nice thoughts. You write beautifully - very clear and open and easy to follow. As time permits I'l going to go back and read more of what you're written. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and musings...
I guess I don't buy into the God ANY religion sells. I just know the God of compassion, love, mercy, and grace with whom I've had personal experience.
I grew up with a 'Baptist god,' and was taught that he was just waiting to slap me down for all my inherent evilness. What a horrid thing to tell a child, and equally horrid way to portray God to someone. It took a long time for me to recognize the difference between who and what God truly is, and the bastardized version people like to create to further their own agendas.
So, yeah, the God I know is decidedly a much nicer one that most people have been raised with.
I'm trying to get back in the habit of writing every day. Lately, I've been working on character sketches. Some of those will find their way here, in the form of individual comments to this post.
Comments
But what if we all chose to see the world, and especially each other, through rose-colored, or even better, through God-colored glasses? What would that look like?
Would we jump to the conclusion that an unkind word was simply a misunderstanding and forgive the other person as a matter of course? Would we see only the beauty and none of the scars when we look into each other’s faces? Perhaps we’d assume that all the actions people take with regard to us are taken in our best interest, with only pure motives.
Would we see each other fail, or fall, and have only compassion, reaching out immediately to pick each other up and help each other walk more steadily next time? Would our conversations be not about “who said who did what,” but instead be a celebration of all that’s good and right in that person? Would we lack the ability to remember the faults and mistakes and remember only the best?
Would we focus on all that we have in common, letting our differences fade in that light? Would we understand that “different” is not the same as “wrong?” if we chose to the world through God-colored glasses?
Compassionate-colored glasses are kind of nice.
Nice thoughts. You write beautifully - very clear and open and easy to follow. As time permits I'l going to go back and read more of what you're written. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and musings...
I guess I don't buy into the God ANY religion sells. I just know the God of compassion, love, mercy, and grace with whom I've had personal experience.
I grew up with a 'Baptist god,' and was taught that he was just waiting to slap me down for all my inherent evilness. What a horrid thing to tell a child, and equally horrid way to portray God to someone. It took a long time for me to recognize the difference between who and what God truly is, and the bastardized version people like to create to further their own agendas.
So, yeah, the God I know is decidedly a much nicer one that most people have been raised with.