My childhood home bordered a pond. Keep in mind that in order to be counted as a lake in Minnesota, a body of water must cover an area of at least ten acres. So my Minnesota pond was a bit more substantial than the pond you may be picturing in your mind's eye. Our pond was home--or way station--to several species of ducks and geese, and if you were lucky, you might even spot the egret who occasionally sought refuge there.
Beyond the boundary of our property, the "woods" went on for another ten yards or so, forming the shoreline of the pond. The woods were a great place to play and to hunt for nature's treasures, and during such play, my siblings and playmates and I often came across bird feathers. But I was frustrated because I always seemed to find only artificial feathers. My childhood self could tell that these feathers were fake because of the hollow plastic shaft to which the feathers were attached. It wasn't until years later that I learned that the shaft--which I thought was made of plastic--was in reality a genuine quill, formed of keratin, a tough and flexible protein.
I've thought about this a few times over the years, and it has led me to wonder how often we judge something real to be counterfeit. What if our child really is trying her best in math class? What if our employer really can't afford to give raises this year? What if the lack is not in the person or object or experience but can be traced back to our own limited perspective or understanding? What if what we've been looking for has been in front of us all along, but we just haven't recognized it?
Think what a difference some additional information or a change in perspective might provide for you in a challenging relationship or circumstance you're living with. You might be surprised at what you find.
X-Drive
