A New Perspective

[smallhobbit]

This month's challenge for story_works is to find a new perspective on something.  Since I've been trying this in various ways, I decided it merited its own post.

First of all, I believe all lives matter and therefore this means BlackLivesMatter, which is why, as I wrote in yesterday's book review, I've just read Why I'm No Longer Talking To White People About Race.

Secondly, as we come to an end of the initial reaction to Covid-19 and realise that we're facing a much longer term problem, which will mean making amendments to the way we've always done things, for me this specifically applies to the church.  There is a tendency to look back and want to simply tweak what we were doing, but I believe it's time to look for new approaches.  Which means, when I was speaking about the Good Shepherd the other week, I was emphasising being led into new pastures rather than going back to the ones which had been fully grazed already.

Another way of finding a new perspective is one I used when asked to write a short reflection on Jesus walking on the water.  Instead of looking from the outside and condemning the disciples' lack of faith, try to imagine yourself as actually there and see how it feels and discover there's rather more to the story.

My third way of finding a new perspective has been on writing.  One of my current FutureLearn courses is on fairy tales, and last week we were encouraged to look at an alternative to Red Riding Hood.  My Tigger Holmes series tends to do just that, so I wrote Tigger Holmes and the Case of the Missing Grandmother.  In addition, there's an interesting story in the book of Joshua in the Old Testament about Caleb's daughter, so for fan_flashworks 'Safe' challenge I decided to expand it a little: Caleb's Daughter

Comments

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

I think it's wonderful how you find ways to complete these challenges. I enjoyed the Missing Grandmother. Yes, there will be a new normal. It isn't just a break in the old.

[smallhobbit]

Thank you - having started them I'm keen to complete them, although how easy that will be I have no idea.

I think some people find it hard to accept that things will have to change - and also we aren't going to reach a true normal for some time to come.

[margaret_r]

The missing grandma was fun!

Everything has changed with Covid-19. I think at least some of the changes will be permanent and we will be looking at long-term differences to the way we do things.

[smallhobbit]

Thank you.

Yes, I'm sure you're right and some things could be better as a result.

[rusty_armour]

I admire you for taking on this challenge, which sounds really interesting. I think many people reach a point where they realize that what they've been doing just doesn't work anymore. With everything that's been happening lately, I think a lot of us are re-evaluating our lives and discovering what's really important.

I think it's good that you're looking into ways of amending how certain things are done in the church. I like the idea of being led into new pastures and looking at certain stories from a different angle.

[smallhobbit]

I'm certainly doing some personal re-evaluation and looking at my own priorities.

I would like there to be more discussion about how things could be done within the church.

[luthienberen]

I admire how productive you are and also how you stretch yourself with the various challenges and different prompts :-)

Re Church, yes I agree. This is the new normal for a long time to come. We are also assessing how we must do things differently and is some ways I am finding it a better path (such as a proper rota for the altar servers). Your reflection of Jesus walking on the water is powerful and certainly makes me think!

I hope we all find new pastures and can transform them into kinder and safe spaces for all.

[smallhobbit]

Thank you.

I think it will be good if the new normal causes the church to make some things easier to use, like the rotas. And mostly definitely yes to your last sentence. I do like that icon.

[luthienberen]

Definitely, I do hope the church uses this time to make some things easier to use. :-)
Thank you! I found this icon years ago on livejournal and it called to me.

[debriswoman]

An interesting challenge and some great ways of completing it...so many changes...

[smallhobbit]

Yes, it was. I was struck with the various possibilities.

And very hard to keep the right perspective on it all.