Protestantism

» paper_turtle - what we think/believe influences what we see

When I was a child, I used to go for walks with my paternal grandmother. She had cataracts and glaucoma, and had to use a magnifying glass to read the newspaper, but on our walks she could spot a four-leaf clover from what seemed like a mile away. There I was, much closer to the ground, with better eyesight, and I couldn't find a single one. It used to really perplex me.
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My father (before he went into the nursing home) would walk into a room and instantly spot any picture hanging crooked, any dust bunnies on the floor, or cob webs on the ceiling. I wouldn't notice these things. Instead, I'd be fascinated by the flower arrangement, or the globe, or the shelves full of books. This used to also perplex me.
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My grandmother's world was full of four-leaf clovers. My father's world was full of things that needed fixing. Here at the Suite, on the Protestatism page, we present our own perceptions of the world. Some of us see a lot of four-leaf clovers, some of us just see stuff that needs fixing, and some of us are a mix of the two.
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I'm not saying we should turn a blind eye to what is wrong in the world ...
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BUT
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please, couldn't we have just ONE thread in which people do their best to focus on what is positive? Slogging through negativity, hour after hour, day after day, is not good for us.
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It could be an item of news which is hopeful. It could be a quote, or even a joke. It could be an expression of gratitude or celebration. It could even be the sharing of a dream we have for the future.
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I'll start.
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Today I am grateful for spring, for the tulips blooming outside my window, for the warmth of the sun, and the refreshment of rain.
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peace and love,
Paper Turtle

-- posted by paper_turtle