Perceptions of Summer

I’ve been wondering what words I could put down to express all that went on this summer and I’m kind of having problems sorting it all out and bringing home all the good memories and some of the not so good memories as those we try to learn from and move on. This year was especially difficult due to the security issues and swine flu concerns, and frankly I’m a little burned out on the whole issue, especially when you see the work that was done by those that came down. Rather than get into all of that I’ll tell you of one word that kept popping us into my widdle head that pretty much sums up what the Lord was talking to me about—”Perception”, what do we perceive, and how do others perceive us, or Me? This can exist in all areas of what it takes to get through the summer, from the groups coming and what their perception is about Mexico, the work they will be doing… Our perception of a group and the dynamics that make their group unique to all other groups, and how well each groups does on their projects… The groups perception of Debbie and I as a husband and wife working together, and although I feel most of the time good, we do have our bad days… And my perceptions of what is going on within our own summer intern staff.
I think having a perception is justified, it’s what we do with that perception, and how we act on it. Some of you simply took your perception that was drawn out by our media outlets and stayed away. Others did a bit more investigation to grasp different perceptions and you came. I know there was a time this last summer that some of you perceived that I was having a hard time and you could have held on to that, but instead you took that opportunity to speak to me about it, which helped me open my eyes to how I was perceiving things. If we don’t take the time to clear our perceptions we can miss out on the many blessing the Lord has waiting for us, and we can miss out on being able to be a blessing to others.
I usually ask our interns to think of ways the Lord has spoken to them and how he has changed their lives through their experiences down here, but I often don’t do that to myself. This year the Lord pretty much stamped it on my forehead through showing me how “Perceptions” from all angles can have a big affect on ministry. I see it as building a stage for a play, but there is not title to really draw the picture as to what the play is about. Through the sets,props, lighting, costumes…, we can have a perception and draw our own picture—But then do we walk away to never really see what it was all about? Do we simply ask the question “Hey, what’s this play about”, or do we take a seat with the rest and watch it all come together??
There are those that had their perceptions of who Jesus was and no matter how much he did and said there were those that stuck to their perceptions of unbelief. Then there were those that had perceptions, but they simply had to believe what they SAW, what they Witnessed, and they sat down to watch and listen. So,,,as much as I was really wanting the work “Perception” to go away, I soon learned how it had a personal affect on me and I’ve learned a new way to deal with how I perceive others, and how I’m being Perceived.