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Perception

I've had a note on my desk all week that simply said "violence" on it.  And all week it stared back at me with few words that I could find to speak.  

 Condolences have been shared, horror expressed, anger flowed, sorrow deeply felt...nothing can adequately sum up the tragedy that has taken place in Las Vegas or any other tragedy that has taken place over the last number of years.  Whether by guns or bombings, this nation and others have experienced great loss at the hands of evil.  We can cite Bible verse after Bible verse, we can call for gun control and mental health screening, we can close borders, we can open borders, we can cite radical extremism or racism.  There is a lot of blame to spread around.

 But, after processing all I've seen this week, I come back to one brief story I read.

 A gentleman was staying in the Mandalay Bay Resort on the 30th floor, I believe, just two floors below where the shooter would eventually carry out the evil in his heart.  This man stated that he had planned on returning home that Sunday, but awoke to such a beautiful view of the concert venue and sunshine that morning that he changed his mind and chose to stay one more day.

 He said what struck him what that BOTH he and the shooter had the same view out their windows, but each saw it completely differently.

 To me, that is the heart of the matter.  Perception.  What lenses are we viewing the world through?  The shooter's mindset will be greatly debated for years to come, but one thing is clear: he chose evil.  And evil chose him.

 I tell my nephew's all the time when they say, "He makes me so mad", that they are choosing to be mad.  No one gets to dictate our responses, but us.  This man chose evil.  The other man chose to see beauty.

 What will I choose?  Will I choose to see the beauty, the love, the kindness, the joy?  Or will I dwell on the evil, the hate, the bitterness, the pain?

 I choose joy.

 I choose to see the beauty in the ashes.

 I choose to see the healing power of my Savior.

 I choose to love even the unlovable to the best of my ability.

 I choose to ask forgiveness when I falter.

 I choose to stand up and fight for those that are defeated, beaten down or simply have lost their voice.

 I choose Christ.

 I choose love. ❤



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