A line under perspective

Have you seen the line drawings which reveal one image if your brain is right-side dominant and a different image if left-side dominant?

One image is obvious but, if you really concentrate, you can usually distinguish the other image too.

These pictures are just a bit of fun but they point to something bigger, don’t they?

How often in life do we only see things from one perspective – OUR perspective?

It’s only natural, I suppose, because our instinct kicks in and our life experience informs how we see the world.

Most of the time, that may not matter too much but sometimes it can make a big difference.

The war in Ukraine is possibly an extreme example: democracy versus autocracy.

Closer to home, in our own lives, it can be tempting to dig our heels in rather than making a determined effort to see another point of view.

But when we do make the effort, we stand a better chance of finding common ground from which to move forward.

We can hold on to our opinion but temper it to accommodate a broader view… and, occasionally, we might even acknowledge that we were wrong!

In his letter to the Ephesians (4.31-32), Paul writes: ‘Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words and slander, as well as all types of evil behaviour.

‘Instead, be kind to each other, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.’

Another image comes to mind, of the Ukrainians who caught a young Russian soldier, only to give him a drink, something to eat and a mobile phone to call his parents.

Reverend Chris Fulcher, Church of Scotland, South Kintyre Team Ministry.