I have recently started completing puzzles. As I worked on the last puzzle, I simply could not get the upper right corner to come together. I had the frame completed but I could not find many inside pieces to fit within the frame. As I worked and became a bit frustrated with that corner, the idea flashed through my mind that maybe, just maybe, I had some of the frame pieces in the wrong position. The more I looked at it, the more certain I was. Yes, the frame had pieces incorrectly positioned.
Once that thought solidified in my mind, did I quickly undo the corner frame? No. I kept putting it off. I thought of all the potential work it could be to rework that corner. Yet, the nagging thought persisted to take the corner framework apart and remove some of the piece which I wedged into place. Finally, I relented. I acknowledged that I needed to rework that corner of the puzzle. Did accepting the fact that I must rework the puzzle corner inspire me to do the work? NO.
I kept putting it off. Thinking it might be too hard. Not wanting to take out more than necessary, and I wondered how much was, in fact, necessary to rework? Finally, that corner of the puzzle got the best of me. I consented to rework anything that was necessary. What I discovered that it was very simple. It was not as I had dreaded it might have been!
The Scripture
The crowds came rushing at Jesus. Just ahead of the crowd a young women ran and came to Jesus. The crowds, comprised of many church leaders wanted the rules to be followed. They were furious that the woman had been caught in adultery and wanted “justice.” Jesus turned the situation completely around in John 8:1-11. Those judging the woman were convicted of their own mistakes. They went away to rethink how to live and follow the laws of God. The woman who was shown compassion by Jesus also reframed her self-perception as he sent her away to make different life choices.
Today’s Prayer Practice
Reframing our life perspective, circumstance, and thoughts is truly a gift of grace. God gives us opportunity to make different choices and to see things differently then we first perceived. We are also gifted with a God’s eye perspective when we review our life events especially those which we may have experienced as harsh, difficult, and lonely to discover in hind sight that God was present even though the briers and brambles of life.
Today, I invite you to enter your quiet time with God and consider a time in your life, present or past, and ask God to reframe it. God yearns to gift us with new perspective so that God’s love can be even more deeply experienced in and throughout lives.
Taking a long loving look at circumstance of our life can give us renewed hope. Consider these questions as you pray with a life event to see the presence of Christ within the other, self and event.
- Imagine how God sees you, the person or event.
- What does God say?
- What does God see?
- How does God look upon you?
- How do you imagine God may have felt at the time?
- How does God live compassion, mercy, gentleness, kindness, justice, liberation, forgiveness, peace, in and through this person or situation?
If you would like to be artistic you may download an empty frame to assist with your reframing prayer. Or simply journal your thought and insights.
Enjoy praying.
