The View from a Kaleidoscope

When I was a kid one of my favorite toys was the Kaleidoscope—a cardboard tube filled with colored glass, mirrors, and designs, which when you look through it and turn it, it changes into a myriad of beautiful designs and patterns. It makes magic with light and mirrors. The name Kaleidoscope comes from Greek words meaning beautiful, form, and view. Part of what makes a Kaleidoscope so fascinating is that as you turn it, the contents shift and you look at them from a different perspective. You see something you hadn't seen before. Perspective is one of the strongest powers of the mind and spirit. It can affect our mood, how productive we are, how we tackle obstacles and much more. In times when we struggle to keep life in perspective, it can be helpful to remember that it's all in how you look at things. Turn the kaleidoscope clockwise and see a wave of geometric shapes and a splash of blues and greens. Twist it the other way and you find yourself staring at a completely different pattern of reds and yellows. The different views represent your life; it's just a matter of finding the right angle from which to look at it or at least see that everyone's life holds within it beautiful complexity and some chaos too.

Another way of keeping life in perspective is to see that our perspective is not the only one. We each see the world from our own perspective given our own background and life experiences. However, it is helpful as we go through life to learn to see the world through other lenses, from other perspectives. Often it takes just a slight shift or turn to begin to see through someone else's eyes, to see the world in a new light. When we value and respect the uniqueness in people we live and work with, it becomes easier to be less critical and judgmental. We begin to understand and appreciate that the people we're close to see the world in their own unique way, which may or may not be similar to our own view of the world. This leads to more tolerance and acceptance in relationships and can heal many rifts. Curiosity, respect, an open mind and a generous heart tries to understand life from someone else's perspective. When you view our beatitudes campus as if through a kaleidoscope, you see an amazing array of humanity, richly diverse and beautiful. Each person brings their own unique design and pattern. What a blessing!

Author Info: Peggy Roberts

Chaplain Peggy Roberts is Vice President of the Spiritual Life Department here at Beatitudes. Peggy was ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and has served in pastoral ministry as well as being a hospice chaplain.