A prayer for perspective,

for perspective, written by Dick Woodward and read by Kelly Givens.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God,

who gives generously to all without finding fault

and it will be given to you.

James 1.5.

Perspective means to look through to the end.

I learned a helpful spiritual discipline on my faith journey when I asked

God to give me his perspective of the long view and the forward look. I now find it helpful to look up and ask God to give me his perspective as I take the long view back at the events of my life.

I believe it does wonders for our perspective when we regularly shake ourselves out of our

introspective pity parties, look up and ask for God's long view perspective of our life in both directions.

Robertson-McCulkin, a spiritual leader I deeply respect, teaches

it is easier to move to a consistent and problem-free extreme than to remain at the

center of tension on any biblical issue, but the truth is often found at the center.

In an interview, Rick Warren was asked how he felt about his wife's cancer.

He reflected that he once thought life was a series of mountaintops and valleys,

but he has now decided life is like a railroad track.

The left rail represents this hard reality. There is always something bad in our life

because God is more interested in our character than he is in our comfort. The

right rail represents this blessing. There is always something good in our life

because God is good and he does love us. I have found that when we're hurting

we can often find truth at the center between these two rails of reality.

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