A Keen Perspective

As I drove down the road today, I witnessed a tragic event that made me pause and ponder the fleeting nature of life. An oncoming car struck a squirrel who was scurrying out to gather some nuts that had fallen from an overhead tree. In less than a blink of an eye, the squirrel's life was extinguished. Talk about a nutty reminder of our mortality! It hit me (pun intended): we're all just like that squirrel, busily scurrying around, trying to gather our own "nuts" - whether that's wealth, success, or happiness. But in a split second, our lives can change forever. As the Bible says, "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." (James 4:14) But here's the thing: while we can't control the length of our lives, we can control how we live them. So, let's not get too caught up in chasing after nuts (okay, I'll stop with the squirrel analogies now, I pro...

In many American Indian cultures, animals were considered messengers of the Great Spirit, carrying guidance and wisdom. Encounters with wild animals were seen as opportunities for spiritual growth and self-reflection. I've always been fascinated by this idea, and recently, I've been wondering: does God really guide animals to cross our paths to convey messages? This concept isn't unique to American Indian cultures; the Bible also contains stories of animals being used as messengers from God. For example: - _Numbers 22:22-35_: A donkey sees an angel of the Lord and refuses to move, saving the life of its owner, Balaam. _1 Kings 17:4-6_: Ravens bring food to the prophet Elijah during a time of famine.  _Jonah 1:17_: A whale swallows Jonah, leading to his repentance and ministry.  _Genesis 8:8-12_: A dove returns to Noah's ark with an olive leaf, signaling the end of the flood and a new beginning. In the past week, I've had an unusual series of encounters with wild ani...

This post contains affiliate links. By clicking any of the links,  if you make a purchase, I earn a small commission. Today, I watched the movie " Enough " starring Jennifer Lopez, and it struck a chord deep within me. The film's themes of resilience, self-reliance, and empowerment resonated strongly, reminding me of another favorite, " Where the Crawdads Sing " by Delia Owens. Both stories feature strong female protagonists who have faced trauma and adversity, and their journeys toward healing and triumph are a testament to the human spirit's capacity for growth and transformation. As Evy Poumpouras notes in her book " Becoming Bulletproof ," "Research shows that watching a movie can set complex processes in your brain to work toward shifting your psychological mindset. This is what allows us to get swept up in a movie, to internalize the struggles of a protagonist we relate to and rejoice in their victories." This is precisely what happ...