Will the impact one idea have as compared to another make one more important? Do we let the quantity of an outcome determine our level of interest? As much as I hope that there could be a different way of looking at things, the reflection of my actions suggests my answer is “yes”
This morning setting reminded me that certain experiences just are. Size, quantity, and impact flatten into something that just is. As I looked north over Dempsey Hill and the Botanical Gardens towards Singapore’s water reservoirs and tropical rain forest, I could feel the lingering cool breeze from the early morning rains. The lingering traces of the rain could be seen in the threading misting clouds clinging to the treetops. Even as I reflected on the scene, I knew that the scene was changing as the threads visibly disappeared with the morning light. In the quietness and gentle movements, the sounds of the community waking up included a variety of birds and a growing number of busses, cars, and motorcycles.
The scene was beautiful, melancholy, and filled with a sense of possibilities. As the emotions flooded my heart, my mind replayed other scenes with the same emotional combination. Each scene was unique: from tall mountains to vivid sunsets to observational studies of individuals and relationships. In their differences there was a unity in how they touched my mind and heart.
Reflection reminded me that while the impact varied by the scene, the ways I was touched was not determined by the relative size, quantity, or force in the scene. There was far more to the equation.
As I listen to an old writer describe; “You huge mountains, Bashan mountains, mighty mountains, dragon mountains,” (Psalm 68.15) I realized that everything was relative to where his heart was at the time. You and I are in similar places. The world around us touches us in context to where we are in proportion to our openness. Life is willing to embrace us with hope and possibilities, especially when we are willing to be part of the process.
