From what view are you looking?
It’s blackberry season. Wild blackberries.
I make blackberry jelly and blackberry cobblers. Mmm…
But as with everything good and worthwhile, there is a cost. Blackberry picking is hard work, usually during some of our hottest weather. Wild blackberry bushes have thorns that hurt, so it isn’t as if we can pick in short sleeves and flip-flops. So I don the boots, long pants, long sleeves, and a hat. And to make it worse–there are other hazards–mosquitos, bees, and chiggers.
This lovely and seemingly innocent flower (Queen Anne’s Lace) shields a teeny-tiny bug–CHIGGERS! These little bugs jump off of their host, leap on unsuspecting victims, crawl into places they shouldn’t, and leave enormous whelps that itch for weeks.
Did I mention I love blackberry cobbler and jelly? So, I armor up, use the bug spray, and hope for the best.
This week the blackberries not only gifted me their fruit, but taught me another lesson from nature. (God sends me lessons through nature–I’m thankful).
This week’s lesson was on perspective. Hmm…you might say…
“How does picking blackberries teach a lesson on perspective?”
Wild blackberries grow where they wish (and where we don’t mow them with a lawnmower or bush hog). So they don’t grow in rows, but most often in giant, tangled clumps. I’ve always picked them in the way I’m about to describe, but I didn’t make the connection to perspective until this week.
How to pick wild blackberries…
When picking, I travel slowly along the exterior part of the blackberry bramble clump, searching from ground level to as high as I can reach. Berries are everywhere, hiding behind tall grass or the branches of other briars or weeds. Periodically, I go back the same way I have come, looking at the same area from the opposite direction. From this new perspective, I find berries that I missed on my first pass.
When I look from a different perspective, I find fruit that I missed before.
That happens in life too, doesn’t it? Sometimes we have an opinion about an issue, but receive additional information which leads us to consider the situation from a different perspective. Have you ever had your mind set on something and someone offered you another viewpoint that you never considered before?
Our perspective is important.
We form our values and opinions based on many factors–our parents and home environment, the education we receive, and the people we associate with (family, friends, colleagues, media) all greatly impact our perspective–how we view our world and the circumstances we face on a daily basis.
For many of us, our faith guides our perspective in many aspects of our life. We recognize the need of a higher authority, our God, to formulate our values and viewpoints, our guide on our faith journey. Through Bible study, prayer, meditation, and fellowship with other believers, we seek to think and act in ways that reflect this reliance on our Father.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9
As believers, we strive (try) to interact with others, guided by a perspective that demonstrates our love for and commitment to serving God.
Are we always successful?
Of course not. Sometimes we are so set in our ways (stubborn) that we refuse to see other perspectives before solidifying our opinion. Or worse, we establish a viewpoint on an issue without seeking our Lord’s guidance through Bible study and prayer.
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100:5.
We may miss out on something really important when we refuse to look at a problem or issue from another perspective.
When considering perspective/viewpoint, we can ask ourselves…
Does my viewpoint honor what Jesus declared to be the greatest commandment?
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37-39
From the story of the Good Samaritan, we know that Jesus did not view our neighbor to only be those who look like us, believe like us, or act like us. Jesus views our neighbor to be anyone.
Does my viewpoint recognize that God’s perspective is the only one that matters?
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs then all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen since what is seen is temporary, but what unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
Our Lord’s perspective is the only one that matters. We have the tools to seek His guidance in every aspect of our lives. As much as we would like to trust our own viewpoint, we need to seek God’s. His perspective is eternal.
Does my viewpoint guide me to treat others in a way that reflects the Light of Jesus?
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that I may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:29-32.
Just as with my blackberry picking, when the hazards of heat, bugs, and thorns attack me, the darts of the devil are consistently present in our daily lives, attempting to turn our thoughts and actions away from the path of Jesus. But again, as I step back, turn in the opposite direction, seeking a different perspective to find the fruit of the blackberry, we can also turn from the direction the world calls us, seek the perspective of our Lord so that we can be guided by Him.
Can you share a time when you formulated a strong opinion about an issue, but studying God’s Word and prayer helped you find a new perspective?
Is the devil shooting darts at you now? What tools from our Lord’s arsenal are you using to fight back?
Beautiful lesson on perspective drawn from the simplicity of blueberries but the complexity of picking them! Asking if my perspective lines up with the greatest commandment and honors God’s Word puts my decisions and opinions in “perspective”. Thank you for sharing this and for your prayers.
Thank you for your encouragement, Marilyn. I agree that “checking in” with our Father to see if our perspective is in His will is a necessity. I just wish it was more automatic for me. Thankful our Father has patience with us as well as infinite love. Wishing you a blessed day.
When my daughter was younger, I would take her blackberry picking and we’d each have our own container. The funny thing is, hers would be empty by the time we got back to the house and mine was full. The evidence was found on her mouth and tongue.
Thanks for your thoughts on perspective!
Ha! Ha! Ben, that’s a great memory. I confess I was much like your daughter when I was younger. Pick a few–eat a lot! Now, I’m eager to get away from those pesky bugs so I hurry along. Being a person that loves nature, I’m sure you have many lessons you can share with us. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on pjnet.tv.
Funny thing about blackberries … I came upon a fruitful bunch of these last Saturday after many years of not seeing any. But mid-way along a strenuous hike at Rocky Face, there they were! I’d forgotten just how very prickly these vines are and got stuck often reaching through to snag the fruit. When I slowed my enthusiasm and peeked around for best ways to reach the fruit in sight, I was able to secure quite a few handfuls. Great analogy to how we need to approach people and circumstances from God’s different perspective, assuring that it lines up with the truth of his word.
Thank you for sharing your story from your hike, Mary. Your example of taking time to look and see the best path to the fruit is a good lesson for us. We shouldn’t rush into things without taking the time to observe, think the decision through, and PRAY about it. I enjoy hiking, too, but there aren’t as many interesting places here in the flatlands. I miss the mountains.
We’ve picked strawberries, blueberries, cherries, and apples–but not blackberries. I didn’t know that about chiggers and Queen Anne’s Lace–yuck. (Nail polish on the chiggers smothers them, though.)
I love the picture you’ve drawn with parallels to God’s guidance and protection of us.
Nancy, I’ve used the nail polish remedy often. It works! Thank you for your encouragement. Wishing you a blessed day.
Educational and convicting my friend. Very well said indeed. I often try and remember that not everyone I communicate with will share my worldview. After all, my experiences are most assuredly different from many others. Sadly, finding “common ground” seems to be an uncommon event these days as it appears folks are becoming so polarized that they refuse to even consider “the middle.” Your words led me to contemplation and prayer this week Ms. Katherine. Thank you for your leadership, kindness, and mentorship my friend.
I lament with you, J.D. Much of our country (and our world) is torn apart by conflict. Often this stems from deep philosophical and political discord. I hope and pray that we can learn to love one another, even when we disagree. Since the love one another commandment comes straight from Jesus, it seems to me that Christians should take the lead in being role models, yet in so many cases, Christians are taking the lead in spreading conflict. Thank you for your prayers, J.D. We are in great need of God’s intervention.
I loved your story of armoring up to pick blackberries, and my mouth was watering over blackberry jam and cobbler! I especially appreciated, though, your lesson on perspective. I tend to be very stubborn once I’ve formed an opinion, so your 3 questions about whether my perspective is in line with God’s are good ones to ponder and pray about.
Kathy, I have a big dose of the “stubborn” trait, too. Like me, you probably pray that the stubbornness can be for our good (determination, perseverance, and commitment) rather than for the bad (pride, intolerance, hard-headed or stiff-necked). I’m thankful that God has helped me over the years to demonstrate less of the negative aspects of stubbornness. You’ve always demonstrated such a gentle spirit–hard to imagine you otherwise. Blessings.
Katherine, I love blackberries and I wish I could have some of your cobbler. We have blackberry bushes in the woods behind our home and I know what you mean about picking them. One other hazard I look for is snakes! And that devil who goes around seeking whom he may devour is one we need to watch out for too. Thanks for your post.
I love blackberries, too–fresh, cobblers, and jelly. I’m thankful God provides them wild for us, although I confess to complaining about the briars and brambles when they invade my garden and yard. Another remind that we must accept the challenges as well as the blessings. Yes, you are right about the snakes–I’ve confronted a few as I pick. There’s probably a lot more I don’t see. Blessings!
I picked blackberries once as a child and that was enough for me. Of course I wasn’t armored up and suffered from it. Your post helps me see blackberry picking from a different perspective. Preparation and prayer will help us through the battles of life — including our disagreements with others.
I remember what happened when I didn’t armor up for blackberries, too. I’d itch from those chigger bites for weeks! Viewing things from God’s perspective will guide us through the daily challenges of life–of which there are many. I’m so thankful we have a Savior that is with u on every step of the journey (as long as we invite Him).
Katherine,
What beautiful imagery and such a great lesson you’ve woven from berry picking. Shifting perspective can make all the difference. Thank you for sharing!
Peace and grace,
Tammy
Thank you, Tammy–now if I could just remember to always view situations filtered through God’s guidance. Submitting to His will in all things makes all the difference, but I confess, sometimes my human nature gets in the way. I’m so thankful He’s still working on me!
This week I was convinced I was right when in fact my friend was right. I’ve learned to hold my own opinions loosely, remain quiet, and seek God’s perspective instead of holding onto mine. Scripture shows us His truth. Thank you for this wonderful post on perspective, Katherine.
I’ve found that keeping my mouth closed when I am certain I am right is one of the hardest things to do. Thank you for sharing this example of how choosing to honor God’s perspective helps us in the most ordinary, yet challenging, circumstances.