Above the clouds

The clouds were like a fluffy blanket below as I looked out the window of the airplane. A feeling of amazement washed over me as I looked at the small world below. What seemed so big in life on the ground had quickly become nothing but a pinpoint vanishing out of sight as the plane broke through the clouds. Seeing this larger perspective made me feel small and insignificant.

As I flew home from Alaska I was struck with the thought that the larger perspective I was viewing above the clouds must be similar to God's perspective on life. He sees a much bigger picture; not just the next week or month of  life. Not just the next year, but He sees from the beginning of time till the end of time. My view of life hardly consists of a day, His view spans eras, kingdoms, wars, and ages. When I considered His view I felt a sting within my soul.

I have come to realize that as a perfectionist I allow very small details to become giant. Sometimes the smallest details take over my entire perspective on life. For instance, if I have not accomplished something I feel like I have failed my entire life. Or if it is rainy I let it ruin my entire day. Or I will spend hours agonizing over which pair of shoes to purchase. The small details explode taking over my entire perspective on life. In the bigger picture these details are insignificant, yet I allow them to rule my feelings, thoughts, and actions in the moment. Most of the details I worry or stress over other people would hardly notice. My perspective is so small. It does not see past the moment, past me.

For a moment on that plane I saw that the small details were meaningless and invisible when I looked down from above the clouds. How can I keep my perspective above the clouds? How do I see the small details in their true size, just a pinpoint that vanishes? How can I prevent them from blowing up and taking over my entire life? How can I remove my priorities which relate to the moment and replace them with God's priorities which relate to eternity? I want to rise up, to keep my perspective above the clouds where I see the larger picture of God's plan, not my own. How can I keep my perspective above the clouds?

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18