Faith & Values: Seeing beyond what is in front of us

In a crowded ballpark, I watched a young girl try to get her parents’ attention. As she struggled to see the game, she cried out repeatedly, “I can’t see!” Not too long afterward, her father picked her up and sat her on his lap. Her face beamed with the delight as she stretched out her arms and shouted, “Now I can see everything!”

Perhaps we can all relate to this young girl’s predicament. We, too, can find ourselves unable to see beyond what is right in front of us. Busy-ness and the details of everyday life can often block our view of what is really important. Advertisements and news feeds flood our inboxes as we search for important emails and timely announcements. At times it can be difficult to understand our greater purpose because of our limited view.

In a Renaissance proverb collection published in England back in 1546, John Heywood wrote, “from him who sees no wood for trees/And yet is busy as the bees.” Over the course of time, the word “wood” was replaced by “forest” and became the idiom we know as “You can’t see the forest for the trees.”

Sometimes, our minds need to be lifted to shift our perspective to a “balcony view” of life. We can benefit from pausing to observe and reflect on what really matters. A “balcony view” does not have to be expensive or inconvenient; it can be as simple as bowing in prayer, reading scripture, walking in nature or calling a friend.

Recently, the clinical staff of our nonprofit counseling center had the joy of being on a retreat led by Jen Tota McGivney, author of “Finding your Walden.” For more than two years, Henry David Thoreau spent time alone in a cabin he built by Walden’s Pond in Massachusetts. In her book, McGivney states, “Walden Pond was not a vacation. Walden Pond was a retreat, full of intention and purpose. There, Thoreau minimized his expenses and distractions to focus on grander ideas.” She reminded us that just as Thoreau took some time away to contemplate his life, we also need to find our “Walden.”

A reading of McGivney’s book helps us discover some principles Thoreau found to be true in his time that are still applicable today. Some of his principles make us think about what is really important and invites us to examine our own principles and values.

One of the questions McGivney raised was simply, “What is enough?” Thoreau wrote, “The cost of a thing is the amount of what I will call life which is required to be exchanged for it, immediately or in the long run.” Seeing beyond the crowded places of our lives and homes, we might ask ourselves what it would look like to live more simply. What could we let go of in order to make room for what really matters?

It seems to me that similar questions are raised in the narratives found in both the Old and New Testaments. Jesus often raised questions about accumulating wealth, power and possessions. In the book of Matthew, he said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth or rust destroy … But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” He warned people not to prioritize material possessions over spiritual well-being. Certainly, anyone who has ever had the responsibility to clean out the home of a loved one can testify to the fact that everything is left behind. To get a “balcony view,” we may consider reflecting on what is enough.

Another principle I found intriguing was Thoreau’s commitment to being himself. He did not allow the pressures of society to define him. “Thoreau didn’t seek to be different for the sake of being different,” writes McGivney, “he wanted to live a life that was authentic to his personality and his priorities, and he wanted to befriend fellow misfits who lived original and authentic lives too.” Weighing the costs and benefits of being a “self” is a critical exercise we might all consider.

Unfortunately, we live in a society where diversity is not always valued and respected. People often “give up themselves” or “accommodate others” in order to be valued, respected or loved. Sometimes, they do it to simply to keep the peace.

A recent trip overseas reminded me of the value of living in a world where differences are embraced and the sacred dignity of each person is valued. As a person of faith, I believe that Jesus meant what he said when he commanded, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” When a lawyer questioned him about who exactly was his neighbor, the story of the Good Samaritan spoke for itself. We are called to be “the ones who show mercy.”

I have found it helpful to broaden my lens from time to time. Discerning guiding principles that are congruent with my beliefs and values has been a life changing experience. The more I am able to live out of my principles and keep a “balcony view” in my head, the more I am able to be objective about myself and others. When I am lifted by this new perspective, suddenly the game of life becomes more of an adventure filled with curiosity and hope.

The Rev. Becky Glass is executive director for the Peninsula Pastoral Counseling Center in Newport News. She can be reached by email at beglass@peninsulapastoral.org.

https://www.dailypress.com/2025/09/28/faith-values-seeing-beyond-what-is-in-front-of-us/