It's easy to make a list of the not-so-great things in our lives. Hmmm...let's see...traffic, road-construction, doing dishes, people who say hurtful things, sickness...etc. etc. We are surrounded and assailed by negative things daily, and sometimes it seems inescapable. Sometimes we just WANT to see the negative things.
One of my favorite sayings is "Celebrate What's Right With The World" from National Geographic photographer Dewitt Jones' inspiring video. (See link below if you want to watch it). It's a saying that reminds us to look for the good things around us, rather than focusing on what's wrong. That's exactly what Paul is telling the Philippians to do in Philippians 4:8. "Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." Focus on the good...not the bad.
I recently heard this verse used at a wedding as part of the benediction, and it completely took on new meaning for me. What excellent advice for a young couple just beginning their life together. How easy it is criticize and pick out the defects of our spouse! How many marriages end when couples cease to see what the personal qualities they fell in love with, and now only see the irritating, exasperating things. What if we all came home and instead of seeing the dirty clothes and unwashed dishes, we focus the true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praise-worthy qualities of our spouse.
The scope can expand too. How about at work? Is it a chance to get sucked into the negativity/gossip pool? Or do you challenge yourself to find the good qualities of each person, even those who are hard to like or work with? How about our children? Family members? Even strangers on the street? What do we notice first? How dirty and unkempt the homeless man on the corner is? Or that he has a nice smile and has tried his best to keep the few things he has together?
Something to think about. :)
To Watch Dewitt Jones' video, follow this link.
http://www.rumormillnews.com/celebrate.html
