It’s funny how things look different depending on the presence or absence of light. When the sun is high in the sky with no cloud coverage, the ocean can look sea foam green and looks like it has diamonds glittering on the surface. On the other hand, when dark clouds roll in, that same ocean becomes the deepest blue with no shimmer to it at all. The colors of nature are vibrant in the sunlight but take away the sun and it changes their appearance greatly. Recently I was out walking in a neighboring town, looking over a bridge down into a creak, a place I walk several times a week, and I was captivated by the way the water was sparkling. When the sunlight hits the water and reflects on to the marshy land around it, it is nothing short of breathtaking. Under a cloudy sky, it is still pretty to look at but it doesn’t have the same effect.

Our perspective on life and circumstance and different situations are just like this. When I get caught up in the busy or I get easily frustrated or am too self-focused, things around me appear dull and gloomy. Am I just trying to get by? What is even on the other side? It can be the rainiest, cloudiest, gloomiest day, but I can still choose joy. I do believe it is a choice. Perspective is a choice. We do have power over our thought lives. God has given us that power. And if we don’t control our thoughts, our thoughts will control us. Philippians 4:8, it tells us to think about whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable-if there is any moral excellence or anything worthy of praise-dwell on these things. When my mind gets stuck on the hamster wheel of thinking about all the other things, I try to reel it in and think about God’s word. Lately my practice, when my brain is spinning is to think about God’s promises or his character. These are things that are true. Colossians 3:2 tells us to set our minds on things above and to put to death what belongs to your earthly nature. Romans 12 says, do not be conformed to this age but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 2 Corinthians 10:5 commands us to take every thought captive to obey Christ.

I’m not saying it is easy to change your perspective or to take every thought captive. It is hard work to think about what you think about and to implement change. It may be working against everything you have ever thought or believed. I can tell you from experience that I will be everyone’s biggest cheerleader and lead your optimism parade but when it comes to myself I lean towards a glass half empty perspective and have some serious Eeyore tendencies. But-I don’t have to be stuck there. There is hope and power for me to overcome this mindset and it is all found in Jesus. Our lives and circumstances are always changing, but he is always the same, yesterday, today, and forever.

No matter how gloomy things look today, we can choose to see the beauty in each moment. We can choose to see the vibrant colors that surround us in nature, bask in the sunlight for a few minutes and appreciate this life that we were given. If the sun is out where you are today, notice what it does to the ocean, a lake or river, the mountains, a meadow. Reflect on how our attitudes can be like sunshine. As one of my oldest and bestest friends, an eternal optimist would say, if nothing else, today we can be thankful there are trees. She would also say, in the cloudy moments of life to grab those lemons and make some lemonade.