Perception

Just finished presenting a 3 week project we've been working on at school. God has really just been revealing Himself so wonderfully to me throughout this year. If there is one thought I can hold as true is that in all things, God is really in control.

So the project was a group project, which will eventually lead up to a competition where the group selected within the class will then go to compete with other universities working on the same project. Now this was the 3rd group project this year, so some bonds have already been established among other groups who had been working together since the 1st one. The last group I was in was  a "chance" arrangement (I say sarcastically, with Rom. 8:28 in mind), so I really wasn't too sure what the arrangement for this latest would be. But having gotten the brief, I just committed the matter to God (yes I pray for my projects).

Day 1 of the briefing in class was after the holiday after the conference. By then some of the class had already gotten themselves into  groups and I personally wasn't too sure which group I would be in, but from the conferences experience I had the confidence that Go will still lead. So the morning continues and out of the blue one of my colleagues, whom I have really never had a conversation with, asks me if we could pair up. :), was slightly surprised there and, not having much of a choice, I agreed. We needed a 3rd person but everyone had already paired themselves so we agreed to work as just a team of 2.

Now to set all this in context, this brother is one who was in the very same year with me since first year, but still we've never really ever spoken. Various reasons for this come to mind but part of them area also really as a result of my own perception of him (and his possible perception of me.) This was the reason behind the surprise. I wont go into much detail of what my perception of him was but that it was very inaccurate.

As we were going to site we got to speaking and I was very humbled at how similar me and him really are. He is really convicted on the importance of the family, and we shared a lovely discussion on the impact broken homes have had on society. We got to speaking about religion and the he is a faithful Christian too, rather devoted and also holds a position in his church. We had an interesting talk the one time on race relations, he's "Afrikaans" and it was really refreshing to be candid with each other. We both have a frustration with racism, (what's funny is that we are both frustrated with it when it comes our own races - that is: I am really unimpressed with racist behaviour from black people and vice versa).

These, and quite a number of other discussions really humbled me. I never realised how wrong, and possibly quite unfair, my views of him were. Must say I really learnt quite a bit. The experience has really been worth it.

For the past few weeks God has been teaching me a number of valuable lessons. The power of perception has been one to cherish. A pointed question that comes to mind is that what are ones perceptions of people really based on? Also the thought that what are peoples perceptions of me, and the Jesus whom I long to represent? I really think this idea of perception would change many a lives when really looked at critically. At times people do and say things which we may think are done for reasons entirely different to the original purpose, and the misunderstanding really is the result of how things are perceived. I think one can relate to the experience of doing something and then having it entirely misinterpreted from what you were trying to do.

I'm convinced that in everyone there's something valuable to discover, and it is amazing what impact a positive perception of people motives and actions can do when one choses to consider them in that light.

Hoping to get some rest tonight after the project, :). Till next post.