We've Got to See the Smaller Picture

I often hear, "You've got to see the Bigger Picture." 

We're encouraged to have a Big Picture when dealing with investing,  when wondering why we have to file TPS reports, when completing household chores, or trying to solve Health Care problems.  We everyday citizens are told we don't understand the complexity of situations in Washington, so we can't form good opinions on issues - alas, we have no Big Picture.

I'd like to throw a thought out about all of this.  I believe our pursuit of the Big Picture is killing us.

Television, radio, and the internet can give us a very Big Picture.  I can know of heartache and suffering, and "evils" done, by literally people all over the world.  And, I don't know about you, but I react to it all with outrage, frustration, or despair.  And I think something should be done about it all. 

But what do I do about it?  What can I do about it?  Most of the time, the answer is "very little" to both questions.  So, what good is my Big Picture doing me?

All the while, other questions - full of more possibilities - go unnoticed.  What do I do about the suffering in my neighborhood?  What can I be doing about heartache in my own house - if I notice it at all?  What should I be doing about the evil in me?  I can do very much about these, but first I need a Smaller Picture - to see what's going on around and in me.

Unfortunately (or not), I don't think we can have both.  I believe the picture we have grows from our priorities.  I've found if I love the goings on of the world, my picture will be Big; my time will be spent making it Big.  And I've found that if I love my family, love God, and love those I actually interact with daily, I will want a small picture; my time will be spent making it Small.

Which picture do you want?

"Wisdom is in the sight of him who has understanding,

     But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth."
                    Proverbs 17:24

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. 
     And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."
                    Proverbs 9:10

I'll give you this.  There is one Guy that does well with the Big Picture.