It is important to be able to see things from the wide view, to reach that point that we have understood the whole spectrum of what we are doing. It will take time, effort, sacrifice, and patience. While we want things to get done already and see immediate results, the fruits of taking time to absorb and learn will be valuable for making quality decisions in the future.
It is good to have a Gestalt approach on situations. Gestalt is essence or shape of an entity's complete form (Wikipedia). It also expresses that "The whole is greater than the sum of the parts." We can say that it is good to have an eagle's eye view first, seeing the whole landscape, and zooming in later on your target. The tendency for most of us is to only bring forth our own agenda on the table and not consider the whole gamut of the present circumstance or our core values and beliefs. The result will be misunderstanding and too much stress on non-priorities. Seeing the forest first from a mountain top will help us find our way when we are in the forest towards our destination. But it takes time, strength, and patience to reach a mountain top. It is tempting to go right into the forest.
One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God (Luke 6:12).
So how do we see things from the wide-view? Here are some ideas.
Seek Prayer. When we pray we are brought back to our center. When we are centered, we go to the core of our being, our souls. When we are Christ-centered, then we are tapping into the most powerful source of strength and wisdom. Only Chirst can reveal to us the best for the situation we are in and the right decisions we have to make for our future. Meditating on the word of God will calm us and assure us of His promises. Maybe we have heard of the phrase, "pull yourself together." When there is panic and anxiety we have to pull ourselves together back to Christ and allow him to reveal the wide-view.
Seek Places. Being in another place will give us an appreciation of our circumstance. The new place will come to strike us with good analogies or simply learning why in those places certain ideas are successful. This doesn't only pertain to going to other countries. It can be doing something out of our routine or going to certain events that we know will enrich us. The freshness will invigorate us and humble us.
Seek People. Talk to people twice your age. Whether they are twice as young or twice as old. The seniors can give us a good summary of what they have learned. Their intent is always to advice us so we will not make the same mistakes. The young ones remind us of our idealism, our excitement and passion for the future. Both will give us the wide-view. Here, what is needed is the humility to listen, respect their ideas, and contemplate on the right actions based on prayer.
Seek the Past. Those who can see far in the future are those who have dug deep in the past. A good understanding of history will make our decisions sound. Thus, the Old Testament. In order for peace to prevail in the present and future state, we have to learn from wars of the past. Let us view it as part of our history, take the lessons with us, and apply what is best for the future.
The wide-view, the wholeness, the gestalt of things can fully be realized by a continuous connection to our God the Father, Creator of heaven and earth. We pray that we are brought to see the fullness of His plan for our lives and our way of life so we can bring more and more people to Him. For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God (Acts 20:27).
It is good to have a Gestalt approach on situations. Gestalt is essence or shape of an entity's complete form (Wikipedia). It also expresses that "The whole is greater than the sum of the parts." We can say that it is good to have an eagle's eye view first, seeing the whole landscape, and zooming in later on your target. The tendency for most of us is to only bring forth our own agenda on the table and not consider the whole gamut of the present circumstance or our core values and beliefs. The result will be misunderstanding and too much stress on non-priorities. Seeing the forest first from a mountain top will help us find our way when we are in the forest towards our destination. But it takes time, strength, and patience to reach a mountain top. It is tempting to go right into the forest.
One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God (Luke 6:12).
So how do we see things from the wide-view? Here are some ideas.
Seek Prayer. When we pray we are brought back to our center. When we are centered, we go to the core of our being, our souls. When we are Christ-centered, then we are tapping into the most powerful source of strength and wisdom. Only Chirst can reveal to us the best for the situation we are in and the right decisions we have to make for our future. Meditating on the word of God will calm us and assure us of His promises. Maybe we have heard of the phrase, "pull yourself together." When there is panic and anxiety we have to pull ourselves together back to Christ and allow him to reveal the wide-view.
Seek Places. Being in another place will give us an appreciation of our circumstance. The new place will come to strike us with good analogies or simply learning why in those places certain ideas are successful. This doesn't only pertain to going to other countries. It can be doing something out of our routine or going to certain events that we know will enrich us. The freshness will invigorate us and humble us.
Seek People. Talk to people twice your age. Whether they are twice as young or twice as old. The seniors can give us a good summary of what they have learned. Their intent is always to advice us so we will not make the same mistakes. The young ones remind us of our idealism, our excitement and passion for the future. Both will give us the wide-view. Here, what is needed is the humility to listen, respect their ideas, and contemplate on the right actions based on prayer.
Seek the Past. Those who can see far in the future are those who have dug deep in the past. A good understanding of history will make our decisions sound. Thus, the Old Testament. In order for peace to prevail in the present and future state, we have to learn from wars of the past. Let us view it as part of our history, take the lessons with us, and apply what is best for the future.
The wide-view, the wholeness, the gestalt of things can fully be realized by a continuous connection to our God the Father, Creator of heaven and earth. We pray that we are brought to see the fullness of His plan for our lives and our way of life so we can bring more and more people to Him. For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God (Acts 20:27).
