Perspective

Last night when Will asked us why we thought that Christianity was sometimes looked upon negatively I was trying to say that I believe the great deceiver can make beautiful things, like generosity and love look ugly and destructive things, like greed and hate seem desirable. I know that bad things are done sometimes in the name of Christianity and that does not help our cause. We as Christians can sometimes judge one another too harshly as well. All good reasons to follow Jesus.
Before I became a Christian I had a reoccurring dream that I was standing on the sidewalk looking across the street and the side of the street I was standing on was dark and scary and everything was broken and messy. But across the street everything was nice and new and bright and lovely. I would pace up and down the sidewalk and I would look across the street and try to get the courage to cross the street.
After I became a Christian and this part is not a dream, I was standing in my front yard one day and I looked across the street and there was a house there and the woman that lived there was really living a hard life and her home was falling apart and her yard was a mess and her life was a mess. I knew her and I liked her but I knew she was living a destructive lifestyle and I knew she wasn't happy. And it was then that I realized that I didn't have that scary dream anymore and that I had made it to the other side of the street. It was like I was looking at my old life and I cannot tell you how safe and comforted I felt at that moment. I did fear for My neighbor though because I had walked in her shoes and I knew how it felt to be stuck like she was. I am not judging her, I could just see what she was going through and I had empathy for her.
I feel way more free now that I am a Christian than I ever felt when I was running wild doing my own thing.
One time I stayed the night at at some friends house and we had a party and stayed up late and we had arrived when it was dark and ended up staying the night. The next morning when I went to leave it was a beautiful morning and I did not feel very good from having stayed up late the night before and when I stepped outside on a bright and beautiful Sunday morning I realized the house was right next to a little country church and everyone was just arriving to church all fresh and happy. They seemed a million miles away from me yet they were right in front of me. It was a very strange and I must say quite uncomfortable feeling. It felt a little like a slap in the face, it was as if this little church had appeared out of no where. I should have walked straight over right then and there, just imagine that.
I had another similar experience when I went to my first Gaither concert. I was sitting in the third row and it was a relatively small venue for the Gaithers. I was not yet a Christian. I had been to concerts all my life and I was a little worried that this was going to be really lame. I started looking around the room before the show began and I couldn't help notice how happy everyone looked and the vibe in the room was really nice. Stephanie was 5 at the time and was not feeling well and fell asleep on her grandpa Danny's lap. She was running a slight fever and slept through the whole concert. I was absolutely stunned by the awesome talent that night and I had a wonderful time. This was not like any other concert I had ever been to. After the concert Steph woke up and her fever had broken. Her Grandpa was so thrilled and I was deeply touched by the whole experience.
When I first became a Christian some of my friends were upset with me. They thought I was crazy. But I can honestly say I never doubted what I was doing. I was shocked though that they couldn't see the changes in me.

So, to me Christianity means walking on the sunny side of life. I now that is a simple view but it's how I look at it.

Keep on the Sunny Side
Carter, A P; Garrett, Gary

There's a dark & a troubled side of life
There's a bright, there's a sunny side, too
Tho' we meet with the darkness and strife
The sunny side we also may view

[cho:] Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side,
Keep on the sunny side of life
It will help us ev'ry day, it will brighten all the way
If we'll keep on the sunny side of life

The storm and its fury broke today,
Crushing hopes that we cherish so dear;
Clouds and storms will, in time, pass away
The sun again will shine bright and clear.
Let us greet with the song of hope each day
Tho' the moment be cloudy or fair
Let us trust in our Saviour away
Who keepeth everyone in His care