Vision Navigator

Above is a picture from this past weeked of my son, Will, standing in front of a tower he helped a bunch of Boy Scouts and younger Webelos build, using nothing but wood spars and rope.

It was a great weekend — aided in part by a post I read on Jonathan Brink’s blog just prior to heading out that helped me to put our life and times in perspective.

The title of the post is We Are That Spoiled — it has a link to a great, hilarious video you have to watch that really serves as a reality check…

It’s so easy to focus on negatives and what we don’t have, isn’t it? So easy to become disatisfied with what we do have, and thirst for the ever elusive something “more.” So easy to be blind to the beauty and blessings that are all around us, and that are ready to be seen if we’re willing to change our perspective…

So, while I was laying on the cold ground in 30 degree weather, I thanked God for:

• my warm bed at home
• the chance to travel out to the woods and enjoy nature with my son and others
• a cell phone that takes pictures and sends them directly to my blog (how cool is that — even if the picture quality is somewhat spotty — see how easy the spoiled part can kick in?)
• dedicated adult leaders who willingly give of their time and talents to create leadership and growth opportunities for young men like my son
• cars that allow us to travel 100 miles in only a couple of hours
• fall colors — beautiful reds, oranges, and golds
• sleeping bags that enclose you like a mummy and keep you warm in 30 degree weather
• the flannel pillow case my wife threw in at the last minute as I was packing
• the way sunlight shimmers on the surface of a lake like thousands of diamonds, as the wind whips up little ripples and waves
• hot coffee in the morning, and hot chocolate at night

Have you checked your perspective lately? What sorts of things do you find yourself focused on of late? What’s one thing you’re thankful for that you often overlook?