A contemporary theory states that men see with a greater depth of field while women see with a wider field. I don’t know how true this is; however I do find men and women see what they choose to see. Everyone, starting with myself, has a blind spot. We ignore the complete picture for a variety of reasons, the most obvious because we honestly do not see it. .
Do we really see the whole picture, no matter how obvious it might seem? Can we really be certain of our immediate conclusions given we may be missing part of the scene? Is there more to the story than we realize?
When I read the warning it is easy to draw conclusions, assign responsibility, and take action. “Danger ahead! God's about to ravish the earth and leave it in ruins, rip everything out by the roots and send everyone scurrying: priests and laypeople alike, owners and workers alike, celebrities and nobodies alike, buyers and sellers alike, bankers and beggars alike, the haves and have-nots alike. The landscape will be a moonscape, totally wasted. And why? Because God says so. He's issued the orders.” (Isaiah 24.1-3) Yet is it the whole story?
You and I live in a complex, confusing, and chaotic world. Data and information are bombarding our senses. If we have any chance of seeing the picture we need help from others who see more on the left and right than we do as well as those with the ability to see with a greater depth of field.
I find myself striving to walk on my own, blind to the obvious. I catch myself setting a course to destruction, ignorant of the pitfalls I am heading for. I treasure those who are engaged in living, willing to take the risk of calling me to account, expanding my vision, and sharing the journey. It is in these relationships that we can stay the course of our true priorities. It is in this family we experience what it is like to be a child of God’s.
