A Matter of Perspective

“How can you be so calm? The world is going nuts all around us, but you’re not.” Dacia paced from one end of her great-aunt’s office to the other. Her heels clacked against the red maple floor. She always hated the sound, but at this moment, it halted the flow of words.

“I guess I don’t need to,” Toni answered. She spun her chair away from her desk.

“What?” Dacia tilted her head and plopped into the soft recliner opposite her aunt.

“I don’t need to panic.”

“Sometimes, you confuse me. People are dying. Old people like … um … I mean—”

Toni laughed at the discomfort before her. “Hon, I know I’m your elder by quite a bit, but thanks for the reminder that I’m old.”

Heat crawled up Dacia’s neck. She checked her watch, straightened her shirt, fidgeted with the neckline, then sighed. Too bad Aunt Toni preferred a furnace rather than fresh air.

Toni’s laughter filled the room as sunlight poured through the transom window. From the prism hanging near the glass, purple, lilac, green, yellow, and orange cascaded and vacillated against the wall.

“You don’t have to be embarrassed, Dacia. We’ve been through a lot together, and it’s all right. I really am old … well, older than some people.” The laughter calmed and the women each sipped their tea. The scent of lavender drifted around the compact space.

Dacia had always loved time with Aunt Toni. They had tried to solve many of the world’s problems over a cup of tea. Peace seemed to drape every conversation they shared. But not this one.

“What is it you’re most afraid of?” Toni’s words broke through Dacia’s torrential thoughts.

A bird hovered outside the large office window and drank from the sugar water. Soon, another twittering hummingbird joined the first. Dacia watched the dance and strained to listen to their song.

“They’re pretty, aren’t they? I love watching them.” Toni rose from her chair and stepped to the window.

Dacia counted squares on the quilt hanging on the wall. She lifted her chin and noted the outline of the water spot on the ceiling. Finally, she walked to stand by her aunt, then pressed her hand against the glass.

“Do you think they’re worried?” Toni patted Dacia’s hand.

“Of course not, they’re birds.”

“And yet God says that you’re more valuable than the birds He cares for.” Toni returned to her desk and picked up her Bible.

“You always go to the Bible, don’t you?” Dacia turned and leaned against the window ledge.

“Yes, it’s where I find everything I need for whatever situation comes up.”

“Every situation?” Dacia raised her eyebrows and opened her eyelids as wide as possible.

Toni smiled and nodded.

“So, the answer to all of the craziness going on?”

“Philippians 4:4-9.”

“The evil and hatred all around?”

Aunt Toni paused for a few seconds, “Isaiah 46:10 and John 3:16.”

“The sadness over people dying?”

“You know as well as I do, dear one, that death is part of life. Death ushers believers into the presence of God. But as far as the Bible … Psalm 23.”

“That’s the Lord’s prayer.”

“Actually, it’s the Shepherd’s psalm.” The bird’s music grew louder. “Any more situations you want to ask about?”

“You’ve said you trust God.”

Toni nodded.

“But you’re being careful and not going out very much.”

“Is that a dichotomy to you?” Toni cocked her head to the side.

Dacia nodded her confirmation.

“I am not worried about dying no matter when that happens. I know my eternal home is with God, but I do want to use His wisdom. I choose to be as careful as possible with myself and for others.”

“So, it’s about caring for others.”

“Yes, but it’s also my choice in how I react to the information I receive. If I have a cold, I don’t go out. If I get pneumonia, I don’t visit other people. Plus, it’s a matter of perspective. It’s not that I can’t go out, it’s about being cautious when I do.”

“But right now you can’t pray with your group or go to your women’s study or take care of the babies in the nursery at church.”

“You think just because I don’t go out as much that I can’t serve God?” Laughter joined the bird’s song which had continued to grow louder with the addition of several hummingbirds. Toni lifted her cell phone. “I still have this. I call people, text a few—though that is very slow,” laughter bubbled again, “send emails and cards, and not allow the circumstances get in the way of serving God and others.”

Dacia tilted her head and squinted her eyes. “It’s not the same though.”

“When your uncle got sick, some life changes were required. We had to decide whether we would get depressed and do nothing or if we would find new ways to still connect with and reach out to people. Right now, the health issue is the problem and life has changed again. But in a week, there might be something else.” Aunt Toni spun the chair back to face the computer.

“Circumstances can’t steal the peace God has given me because a long time ago, I decided I wouldn’t allow it. And that, my dear niece,” she reached out and hugged Dacia, “is why I refuse to panic. God is still God and He is still in control even when difficult things happen. You may not make the same choices in how you deal with the situation in our world, and that’s up to you. But remember, no matter what your decision, I love you, and God loves you more and has you securely in His hands. Trust Him. Now, would you show me how to use this my computer to record a greeting and maybe a devotional to send to a few friends who are feeling down right now?”

 

Photo Credit: Unsplash-Robert Bottman