What We See (05/24/2026)

When I was a small child, my father took a Dale Carnegie course. He loved it so much that even the children in the household came to learn and appreciate Carnegie’s sayings and wisdom which our father frequently used. One of my favorites was:

Two men looked out from prison bars,

One saw the mud, the other saw stars.

My older sister and I used to quote that Carnegie saying frequently, especially when we were trying to get another to change their perspective. Another adage we used to have in common was the one that asks the question of whether the glass is half full or half empty. Spoiler alert: ours were always half full.

Then when I was in high school studying the classics and famous writers, I came across the writings of Henry David Thoreau. He once wrote: “It is not what you look at that matters, it is what you see.” When I read that I must admit I thought to myself that my dad would like that because it sounded very Carnegie-ish.

Our perspectives can make all the difference, I have found. I think of my beloved older sister, Betty, in the final years of her life and the pain that she endured because of her cancer and the effects of the treatments. Yet, a jollier and more positive person one could never hope to meet. How could that be, I used to ask myself as I watched her gracefully navigate her days and difficulties. Then I’d think of our favorite adages and realize that it isn’t just what we see – it’s also what we look for when we search.

Today, as I end my morning prayer and time of pondering, I recall these lessons from my past and ask the LORD to help me take them forward with me. I asked for help from the Spirit to trust that the LORD is active in my life always and to discern the LORD’s power and presence in my life and in my world. I also prayed for the gift of hope.

I pray this day is a day of deep and authentic enthusiasm for us all – “God within” for us all – which will definitely impact what we see when we look out.

Until tomorrow, love well.