A Higher Perspective

Kate Taliaferro considers how, by growing in humility, we can begin to see things from God's perspective.

My parents were recently visiting while my husband was away for about a month on a work trip. My dad, being a handy person and no liking to sit still for too long, was finding all sorts of projects to work on with my 3-year-old son who adores being a “big helper.” They had the measuring tape out and on a whim, my dad said, “Let’s see how tall you are. Wow, look—you’re 41 inches!” In order to show my son, he lowered the tape measure and held it out horizontally. “Wait a minute, that looks way too long. Let me re-measure you,” my dad said as he repositioned the tape measure vertically again. A quick re-check and nope, it was right. The change in perspective was rather astonishing.

From where we adults stand looking down, 41” high is not very tall. But, when you lay 41” out on the floor, it seems more substantial. A simple change in perspective had us doubting what we saw to be accurate.

When a baby is starting to crawl, many parents are encouraged to also get down on their hands and knees to see what the world looks like from their baby’s perspective. There might be objects that need removing or certain areas of the house blocked off from little fingers which an adult height could miss. We put them on our shoulders at parades or on walks so they can see what we see and more. As we grow up, we are taught to try to see things from the other person’s perspective, to walk a mile in their shoes. Perspective is a critical part of how we know and move within the world.

Click to tweet:
To have Christ’s attitude or perspective is to have a humble heart. #CatholicMom

What about God’s perspective? Have you ever tried to see things from God’s perspective? It can be rather daunting, and ultimately isn’t fully achievable since God is God and we are not. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t something God wishes to share with us. St. Paul tells us, 

Have among yourselves the same attitude [mind or perspective] that is also yours in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5)

He then goes on to explain how Christ’s humility is what brought about our salvation. To have Christ’s attitude or perspective is to have a humble heart.

Saint Thérèse of Lisieux has become for many an example of this kind of humility and littleness. She encourages us in this way:

I always wanted to become a saint. … Instead of being discouraged, I told myself that God would not make me wish for something impossible … I will look for some means of going to heaven by a little way which is very short and very straight. It is your arms, Jesus, which are the elevator to carry me to heaven. So there is no need for me to grow up. In fact, just the opposite: I must become less and less.

By allowing Jesus to carry her, she remains humble. And in doing so, she is brought up to Jesus’ perspective, just like a little child in the arms of their mother or father. How can we come to see our struggles, sorrows, joys, delights, trials, even ordinary or uneventful days from Father’s perspective? By allowing Him to carry us, to be our strength. As Saint Thérèse shows us, it is in our littleness that God’s mightiness is shown.

Copyright 2023 Kate Taliaferro
Images: Canva