I'm gonna squash you like a bug!!

     Perspective.
     When my youngest brother was smaller, his one goal in life was to "take me down."  It was always in fun, and we wrestled around quite a bit.  And being 14 years older than him, it was pretty clear who the winner was going to be.  So in the midst of these bouts, the line above was one of my favorites to taunt him and keep him trying.
     Now that we are both grown, he could (probably) say that to me.  He has served in the military, and has kept up his fitness for the most part.  So I'll admit that if we were to have a go at the take down now, I would probably look like a rag doll in the mouth of a rabid dog.  The times have changed, and so has my perspective.
     This morning I had another perspective shock in three random things that have collided at almost the same time that are so remarkably focused it was enough to break me out of my blog slump.
     The first spark was on my way to work this morning.  As anyone who has been outside near sunrise or sunset lately can attest, the past couple of weeks have been gorgeous in Southern California.  The cloud formations have been unique, and it has resulted in beauty that we normally see only rarely.
     Anyway, on my way down Studebaker, as I was crossing over the 22, I was struck by a contrast painting that only God could have created.  You see, there is a power plant at the end of Studebaker, and its skyline is a harsh profile of wire towers, smokestacks, scaffolding, and water tanks.  If you can picture any of the negative ads about pollution, global warming, etc, you know what I am talking about.  The iconic symbolism of man's footprint in nature. 
     But today, behind the stark edges of the plant's skyline was a panoramic paradise of color and spectacle.  Greens, reds, oranges, and blues sprawled across the sky as the sun peaked over the horizon.  And the sky looked HUGE.
     I was struck with the contrast of God's creation against the feebleness of man's.  And it was humbling and awe-inspiring at the same time.  And it reminded me that what I have been thinking of as important really is insignificant compared with God's priorities.
     The second spark happened when I was reading my friend Tory Satter's blog.  He and his wife run 3:18 Ministries on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation in Globe, AZ.  His blog is here:  http://3-18ministries.blogspot.com/.  Anyway, today he was talking about synergy, and the realization that we are only called to be faithful, and God will do the rest.  It was humbling again.  I think that many times I feel discouraged when I see things not going the way I want or anticipate them, and instead of remembering that I am only an instrument for God, I try to do the work on my own, like one of Handy Manny's tools.  I need to just relax, knowing that while it does take intentional action to shape minds, the end result is not in my hands (thank goodness).
     The third spark happened during my HSM NT:365 reading.  Romans Chapter 8 today has this statement (along with a ton of other great stuff): "Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, ends up thinking more about self than God.  That person ignores who God is and what he is doing.  And God isn't pleased with being ignored."  I think this may be me a little, lately.  I have been so wrapped up in my life, and what is going on around me, that I have not seen all that God is doing in my life. Throughout the holidays, a time that was created to worship Him, I was so busy with schedules that I was distracted.
     All of this to say that my perspective has shifted again today.  It is probably better to say that my perspective WAS shifted today.  It was like God was urging me on to keep fighting, and keep focused, teasing me with "I could squash you like a bug!" awesomeness. 
    So thanks for that perspective, Father.  When I see even a bit of Your big picture, all of my worries just melt away as I am made aware that the Power that can create such brilliance is also trying to create a brilliance in me.