One of the most interesting considerations both in works of art and in human relationships is that of perspective. Graphical perspective may be defined and developed mathematically. An artist will draw or paint a scene not only considering the subject matter of the scene itself, but also taking into account the position of the observer of the scene. If he relocates the observer, the whole balance of the painting needs to be altered. And one of the interesting things about the pastoral ministry too is the perspective of any person making an observation. One has to take into account what the person has said and what perspective is being applied to the observation.
Human relationships in general are continually being affected by issues of perspective. Two witnesses to the same scene will view it in very different ways. Residents of a housing estate and operators of a quarry nearby vie with one another to get the government regulators to see things from their own perspective. Husbands and wives find that issues of perspective can cause arguments. It is an important element of the communion (or fellowship) of the Church that we seek to be made aware of the perspectives of our fellow-communicants, and be helped by them, in our quest for our own grace-filled perspective on any matter. Active church fellowship involves a cross-fertilisation of perspectives, for which we should seek neither to conceal our own viewpoint nor to impose it through oppressive domination.
A most interesting and instructive study can be made of our Lord’s own perspective as revealed in His words to His relatives and friends. When Mary and Joseph searched for Him in Jerusalem He asked “How is it that you sought Me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s House?” Jesus often expresses surprise and I think pain that those He loves do not seem to share His perspective. We should reflect too, that when we speak of Jesus’ perspective or viewpoint, we are not merely thinking of one human viewpoint among many. Admitting Jesus to be the Son of God, we must come to see His perspective as one that judges and discerns the adequacy of our own. In Luke 8: 22-25 we see the Lord being woken in the storm-tossed boat by His frightened disciples and surprising them by an exercise of authority over the elements. In His rather pained way He then asked His disciples, “Where is your faith?” I suppose that what pained Jesus was the implication that His presence, even sleeping, did not give them any assurance. They should have known, and we ought to know too, that in His Presence all will be well and no harm can overcome us. It was not wrong for them to have woken Him, but for all that their boat seemed to be sinking, they ought not to have been in terror. Jesus’ perspective, I suppose, included the insight that His “time had not yet come” for His redemptive dying. Until then they should know His presence to be a protecting one for them. With Jesus, it is a matter for our understanding and identifying with His perspective, and not at all a matter for His understanding and identifying with ours. For in a way that none other can claim, His view-point is the right and true one that judges and saves our own. When the Lord declines to understand us, that is for our salvation too.
He who slept in the boat had a transfiguring knowledge too of such things as St. John the Divine spoke about in Revelation chapter 4. In a way we cannot fathom, His perspective included a knowledge of the Throne set in Heaven, and the One seated there, surrounded by worshipping elders and the four living creatures giving glory and honour and thanks. Perhaps at the very moment He was being woken by His terror-struck friends, His mind and heart was with the 24 elders casting their crowns before the Throne of God and singing, “Worthy art Thou, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power; for Thou didst create all things, and by Thy will they existed and were created.” Fear of a storm would hardly have been consistent with such a perspective.
What are our most persistent fears? What is the shape and the character of the storm that could sink our boat? Is it loneliness, being misunderstood, the frailties of old age, poverty or sickness or disability?
Is it a fear of mishap on the road or in the air? What do we find most threatening? Remember that the Lord does not share our perspective about it. We are called to share His, who has authority over all things, the Lord of the beginning of all things, and the Lord of the end.
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