Wondering about perspectives....

I find it quite interesting in the gospels when I read the same story written by different authors, yet each was inspired by God.  What strikes me first is the fact that there is much more going on in some scenarios that we realize.  The accounts we read are incomplete at best.  Words fail to explain every detail and every interwoven event that came to the happening described.  The effects are so far reaching that we would be unable to follow all the trails of the impact to their ends.  In many cases, the trail hasn't ended.

So when I read an account in the Bible that seems to be confusing, I realize that there is more than I can read or see.  The Holy Spirit leads us in truth and is our Teacher.  God's ways are so much higher than ours and He sees so much more than we do, and I'm glad He's in control.

The other thing that I noticed is how the different authors bring themselves to their writing.  Yes, they were inspired by the Holy Spirit, but God used their unique personalities to express and explain some of His character.  Having different accounts allows us to realize the importance of us all bringing our own gifts to the body of Christ.  There is great benefit (and need!) for each of us to bring our talent to the table to integrate with the rest of the body of Christ.  We need each other to try to see the whole big picture.  It's too massive for any one of us to get, but if we appreciate one another we can get glimpses of more aspects and facets of the wonder of God.

This is also what I have been learning in the precious gathering of a few women to discuss Emily's book, A Millions Little Ways.  She says that we were created in the image of our Creator God and we were born to make art.  She wrote, "Art is what happens when you dare to be who you really are."  It's like the orchestra analogy in that we need to bring our small individual parts to the whole or something will be missing.  

What if we thought of it as selfish not to offer to our communities what has been given to us, our gifts, rather than to spend time doing what we enjoy?  What if our individual perspective helps to balance another perspective to bring a more full understanding?  What if we didn't play our part in the symphony? 

Look for perspectives, seek truth, and be you - make art!