I am sure you have heard the phrase, “perception is reality.”. There is a lot of truth to that statement but we must always remember that perception isn’t necessarily truth.
I ran across this quote today in “A Guide to Prayer For All Who Seek God,” and the quote is from Norman Shawchuck. He said, “To view reality from a slightly different perspective often yields a view of things totally unlike what they appeared to be. If we take just a couple of steps in another directon, what we view as reality is often profoundly changed.”
This thought is relevant on several levels but today I want to focus on only two. The first is this: if you disagree with a person about something important to you, before you close your mind to the possibility that person might be right, try viewing the issue from their perspective.
The second thought I have is this: many of us are faced this very day with circumstances that seem overwhelming. But before you throw in the towel, try taking a few steps to the side and looking at the situation again. Never forget that God sees the big picture. God loves you and has your back. What you perceive to be reality might not be real at all.
Clay in the Hands 
This past Sunday we were talking about freedom in Sunday School and I asked the class to give a definition of freedom. The majority responded with thoughts about American Freedom, being in the war, the fight for freedom.
Another student from Kenya responded, “Freedom for one means destruction and bondage for another”. Interesting perspective from someone not from American. And very interesting discussion that ensued about Freedom in Christ.