After a few months of training AI modules, I have become more open to listening and learning from other regular people from around the country and the globe. I have come to realize that in recent years, I have built my own little comfortable world.
Let me explain: for some reason. I have surrounded myself with things and people I enjoy or can easily relate to. Like most people, I have resisted getting out of my comfort zone. Being comfortable, like being too sedentary, can cause atrophy of muscles; it creates a type of mental and social handicap when we fail to experience new things:
The more I talk with new and sometimes different people, the more I’m reminded that God didn’t create cookie-cutter people. He created us each with a different purpose (Jeremiah 1:5; 29:11, Romans 12:2).
God gives each of us different skills, experiences, and voices that make us who we are. Despite what many Americans today believe, just because something is not what they like or want, that doesn’t make it wrong or evil. Instead of trying to force our likes, beliefs, and lifestyles on others, maybe it is better to listen and learn another perspective to help them turn to the light.
Twenty years ago, I began blogging as a single Christian man. So, I decided to name my blog Spiritual Perspectives of Da Single Guy because I understand that both being a man and single fosters a unique perspective, especially for Christians.
Perspective is defined as “A mental view or prospect; the capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance.” So each of us has a unique perspective that relates to how God uniquely created us because God is Good. His Perspective is higher than ours and the earth (Proverbs 3:5-6, Isaiah 55:8-9).
Let’s be honest, God created men and women differently with unique perspectives and personalities. We each see “love” differently (Genesis 1:27). Perspective is more than how we see things with our physical eyes; it is what we believe and have experienced that helps shape our perspective.
Recently, I had a phone conversation with two vision specialists for a new vocation I am interested in starting. The eye doctor shared a biological fact that I hadn’t heard before, even after living with a TBI for almost 30 years; I am glad God was able to revive me.
“Our eyes are the only part of our brain that we can see externally.” To be more specific, our eyes are the beginning point of our optic nerve, which travels along the base of our brain and then connects to the visual center at the back of our brain. No, we are not brainless puppets.
So we “see” we see with our brains every day. This new understanding really changed my perspective on seeing, especially from a spiritual standpoint.
The Bible talks a lot about seeing and knowing, and now I understand better how they are connected (Psalm 119:18, Proverbs 20:12, John 12:40, Romans 3:20).
When we see spiritually, it isn’t necessarily with our eyes; it is with our brains and inner spirit. Jesus taught His followers to see if they believed to know the truth and God (Matthew 13:16, John 9:39). This isn’t necessarily with our eyes but with our minds.
When we come to Jesus, He gives us new sight, both physically and spiritually (Mark 8:22-25, Luke 4:18, John 9:1-41).
Jesus was known to restore sight to physically blind people often (Matthew 9:27-31; 12:22, Luke 7:21). He didn’t just restore physical sight, but reveals spiritual site too many people, especially the religious leaders (Matthew 15:14).
Some 2000 years later, many religious leaders who think they see also need to have God restore their spiritual sight. Our sinful hearts distort our spiritual eyes because we are human.
Despite what many false teachers teach, even God’s people still have corrupt and sinful hearts and need to repent (Jeremiah 17:9, Matthew 15:19, Romans 7:18).
That is why we need other brothers and sisters to help keep us accountable; we are not meant to live this life alone (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). It is humbling to know even God’s people need to listen and learn to new perspectives.
