A New Perspective

I took an little trip north to New Hampshire this past weekend. I've had an open invitation to visit for the last few years, and for some reason I've never acted on it. It's kind of crazy that I've ventured south multiple times, but never north. I think there were a couple of things that made me resist the thought.

It's cold.

It's dark.

Ok, so somehow I hit it on one of the most balmy weekends they've ever had for this time of year, so I can't complain about the temperature. Although, every time I walked outside I was mentally bracing myself for a breath snatching kind of cold that thankfully was not the case.

But it was dark. Like REALLY dark. And the darkness started closing in around 3:30. It was a little eerie to say the least. By the time 5:00 hit, I was heading up 91N through Vermont along the New Hampshire border, and it just got darker and darker. I could only see the road directly in front of me. There were hardly any other cars on the road. There were no lights anywhere. No nearby towns to shed a little illumination. I couldn't see the moon or stars. Nothing. I kept waiting for a moose to appear out of nowhere. The darkness was enveloping. Oppressive. All encompassing. Penetrating.

Contrast that with my drive back south Monday morning in the daylight. That same stretch of road took on a whole different feeling in the light. It was absolutely glorious! Breath taking! Completely gorgeous! I couldn't believe how much I had missed seeing on the way up because I just plain couldn't see it in the dark. I just kept looking around and soaking it all in. God surely outdid Himself with those incredibly beautiful mountains.

The sun decided to paint the sky with the type of rays that filter down through the billowing clouds in streams. The trees were a mix of those that had shaken themselves free from their autumn leaves and the evergreens that live up to their name. And while the snow wasn't laying as thickly as is pictured above, there were patches of white dotting the landscape combined with ice formations clinging to the sides of the rock face that had been exposed in order to make way for the highway.

I just kept repeating "Wow, God, WOW!!" and thanking Him for the gift. I couldn't help myself. It was majestically beautiful!

What a difference light makes. I gained an entirely new perspective. I kept thinking about how much I could have missed if I wouldn't have had the opportunity to drive through that area in the daylight. The oppressive darkness of the night was lifted and turned into one of the most glorious scenes I've ever witnessed.

And then I started wondering how much I could have missed if I wouldn't have God's light opening my eyes to the beautiful things He's been doing and orchestrating along this life journey of mine. What a difference His light has made in my life. His light has illuminated the most amazing and miraculous things. I know I have an entirely new perspective on everything that happens.
A new perspective on the people around me.
A new perspective on my purpose; my passions; my goals.
A new perspective on morality; on my actions, thoughts, and words.
A new perspective on compassion.
A new perspective on pain; hurt; disappointment; worry; tragedy.
A new perspective on contentment; joy.
A new perspective on failure.
A new perspective on friendships; community; relationships; marriage.
A new perspective on change; waiting; anticipation; growth.
A new perspective on everyday miracles; sunrises; ocean tides; babies; stars.
A new perspective on thankfulness; grace; mercy; faithfulness; trust.
A new perspective on life.

I'm so thankful for my Savior. I'm so thankful for the opportunity to walk through this life in His light. I'm so thankful He broke through the oppressive darkness that shrouded my heart and turned my life into something beautiful...something even more glorious than the scenery I witnessed this weekend.

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you."