Perspective
Whose eyes are you looking through and living for?
Well, I’m well overdue for my post summing up our border trip. I did however, get an email out to those who prayed and gave - if you’d like that forwarded to you, please comment below.
Tonight I thought I’d try to scrounge up some words to share about it all…
But I really only have one:
Perspective.
Perspective can be defined as: a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view.
We live in an age where our minds and attitudes - towards certain people, topics, headlines, policies, what color the dress is in the photo, etc. - are constantly being influenced.
And not just influenced, capitalized on.
Social media and tribal news outlets seemingly have one goal: to control your perspective and capture your attention.
But despite our access to an abundant amount of resources, it seems our perspectives have only become more siloed.
Nuance is rare.
But here’s what I would say (and I’m riffing off a friend a bit):
Proximity changes your perspective.
If you want to change your view on things, get closer to the person or problem you want to gain new insight on.
What I find interesting about perspective, is that despite the many perspectives we all have as individuals, there is only one reality.
Reality is: the world or the state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea of them.
Reality is complex, which is how many perspectives can exist, but skewed perspectives do not change reality.
For example:
If a child misbehaves and has to go to their room earlier than she wanted to, her perspective may be that this was an unfair consequence. However, the parent knows that there were agreed upon terms/rules that were not followed that led to this reality. The child’s perspective exists, but she must be reoriented to reality.
A more simple but more poignant example:
Just because you’ve never personally experienced racism, your point of view that it does not exist in 2025, is an inaccurate view of reality.
But Anna, why are you rambling about all of this…?
Because it matters.
How we as Christ followers see things is of utmost importance.
We must strive to not let bias, worldly loyalty, prejudices, or pride influence our views of reality.
And the good news is, we have been given the mind of Christ.
We don’t have to look through the filters of our news and social media outlets to determine our views on things.
We can look through they eyes, heart, and mind of Christ.
If you can’t go to the border of Mexico and Texas, you can open your Bible.
You can change your perspective by gaining proximity to Christ.
You can see how God cares for the immigrants and refugees.
You can see the reality that our God came in human form as a refugee Himself.
You can see that He was a suffering servant, man of sorrows, who did not consider an earthly kingdom or crown worth living for.
When I look through my eyes and my perspective, I often think this life is about me.
I often think it’s about me living the most comfortable, successful, financially stable, life I can live.
But Jesus said, “Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.” (John 12:25-16)
And His perspective is correct.
Whose eyes are you looking through and living for?