Things Aren’t Always What They Seem

Sunrise from my window!

I checked into a hotel yesterday with my husband for MS Association of School Superintendent’s Conference (MASS). We’ve stayed at this hotel yearly for over 10 years now. When we got in our room I went to the big window and was immediately filled with a little bit of disappointment. One of my favorite things to do in the room is look out the large picture window and take in the beautiful view we usually have. We are normally on higher floors and can see so much of the city or the bay, depending what side we are on. When I looked out of the window yesterday, the first thing that caught my eye was the roof below us….not a pretty sight, as you can imagine. I could see a little bit beyond it but nothing like what I was hoping for. I commented, “this is the worst view we’ve ever had”.

Later on, when we got back to the room from dinner, we had just got in bed and was startled by some loud noises. My daughter asked what it was and I said “it sounds like fireworks?!” We got up and went to the window and sure enough, beautiful fireworks were exploding in the night sky!  As I stood there gazing at the alluring lights, my earlier comment, about the awful view, was brought back to my mind. My thoughts and feelings shifted a little in that moment.

This morning the alarm clock next to me, (that I had NOT set), woke me at 6:00 am. I turned it off, a little frustrated because I hadn’t slept well at all, and had hoped to sleep in a bit.  I noticed a hint of light peeking through the crack in the curtains of the big window. I got up and walked over and opened the curtains enough that my eye caught the tip of the sun peeking over the horizon from afar off. It was a deep orange and was surrounded  by a gorgeous horizon with an orange hue. I grabbed my phone and took a picture, trying to capture the beauty that my eyes beheld, but pictures just did not do it justice.

As I stood in the window, I  watched the sun rise in the quietness of the morning and enjoyed every second of it. I thanked God for the beauty of His creation and allowing me to enjoy it. Once again, the comment I made about the view from our room popped back into my head. Guilt flooded my heart as I realized the negative feelings I had allowed to seep in and that I had projected aloud, ungratefully.

I said all that to say this…things aren’t always what they seem. What I initially thought was a bad view, ended up revealing some of the most beautiful views I’ve ever experienced in all the years we’ve stayed here.

“Perspective” is everything! How do you see and interpret things?

Spiritually speaking…God constantly calls us to a higher perspective—to see not just what’s happening to us, but what He’s doing through it. When we shift our perspective, we don’t just see life differently—we live differently.

Positive thoughts shape our perspective. In fact, your thoughts are like lenses: they color everything you see. Here’s how it works:

1. Thoughts → Perspective → Attitude → Actions
   • What you dwell on mentally becomes the lens through which you see people, problems, and purpose.
2. Positive thoughts don’t deny reality—they reshape how we respond.
   • You can acknowledge pain or hardship and still choose to see hope, growth, or God’s hand in it.
3. Biblical truth supports this.
   • Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV): “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”
   • Philippians 4:8 (NKJV): “Whatever things are true…noble…just…pure…lovely…of good report…meditate on these things.

Positive, faith-filled thinking isn’t shallow optimism—it’s choosing to believe God is good, faithful, and near no matter what we see.

It’s a discipline, not just a feeling! So the next time you recognize negative thoughts seeping into your mind, shut them down intentionally and immediately. You will be a better person for it!!!

Fireworks from my window!