PERSPECTIVE

"VICTORY/OUTCRY" was the headline in yesterday's AZ Republic in response to Sunday's historic health care vote. Paint me on the side of Outcry.

But even before I had read Pastor Rick Warren's daily devotional that I receive, I had already had a softening of the heart. "In the Bible, the words understanding, wisdom, and discernment all have to do with perspective. The opposites, hardness of heart, blinded, and dullness."

From my perspective, it's easy to see my hardness of heart. I vowed never to vote for anyone who supported that bill. But when I examined that oath, I thought "I would never have voted for them anyway." My next thought was "Nice job of uniting the country. The last time I saw it so of one mind was when Nixon said he wanted to bring the country together: he did, against him." So, yes, Obama, you're a uniter all right. My final thought (not really, for I am capable of more than 3) was "there goes the Democrat stranglehold on Congress. How soon is it till November?" Again, all from my perspective.

But if I believe in a sovereign God, and I most certainly do, then I know that this was the result of His will, His perspective. Yes, I prayed as many did that the bill would not muster the needed votes, that the Democrats against abortion would resist following this plan. But does that mean God didn't hear those prayers? Not at all. It means that at this time, it was not in His will.

I can rest on that. For He's still on the throne. I can't see His perspective, but what's important is His perfect plan--not mine.