In a quiet room, the man stretched his arms to heaven and thanked Jesus. Maybe this wouldn’t have been so unusual, except he was sitting in a pedicure chair surrounded by women who weren’t sure what to make of him. I could see the joy exuding from his soul, and I knew this older man was sincerely grateful. I soon found out why. His name was Hank, which I learned because he was seated next to me. I was curious about this sweet man, and of course, I wanted to know his story. I’m so glad I asked.Hank had just finished his cancer treatment, and this was the first time in a year he had the strength to sit in a chair and have his nails done. During his treatment, he had been sick in bed most of the time. Today was his first day of freedom to do all the things he had been longing for during the past year. And he had a plan for what he was doing next. “I’m going to get me a big steak with all the trimmings. It’s the first day that food sounds good to me.” He beamed a big smile. “And you know what? I deserve that 
big steak.”I agreed with him, and we continued to talk for about 20 minutes. Not once did I hear him complain, but instead he talked about how his journey made him appreciate the beauty of today more than ever.“These times change our perspective, don’t they?” Hank then continued with a sentence that has been running through my mind since that day. “We are not promised tomorrow, so I thank God for my today more than ever.”
Hank didn’t know I had walked into that nail salon in a melancholy mood over something trivial. I was frustrated, but as Hank talked, my soul was hearing what I already knew. There are things that matter, but most of the time we don’t focus on them. For Hank, heaven was a pedicure and a steak. A senior I had recently visited found her heaven on a trip to the park where she could see the trees and feel the fresh air on her face. On that same day, another friend found heaven by singing her favorite hymns and enjoying a visit from a friend. These are simple things, but seeing them as “heavenly” depends on our perspective.
Perspective is related to the way we view something. The word suggests “looking through… seeing clearly.” Someone who puts things in perspective can see the big picture. These people distinguish the incidental from the essential; the temporal from the eternal; the partial from the whole. When you walk through the valley, heaven becomes redefined.
Hank gave me a perspective check on my day in that nail salon. As he talked, I realized my frustrations were pale compared to my blessings. Some days, God gently reminds me to change the lens and get some perspective. Heavenly perspective.
“I don’t know how many days I have left, but the good Lord does,” Hank said to me. “And I look forward to seeing what each day will be filled with until He calls me home.”
In that moment, time seemed to stand still, and more than anything else, I wanted the little insignificant things to fall away as the broad images of truth emerged. My rushed and hurried moment of frustration lifted like fog, and I could feel myself taking a deep breath. I was no longer confused, angry, or overwhelmed. And no longer afraid.
Could these moments of perspective be considered “shelters of the Most High?” When we are there, is it possible we are “abiding in the shadow of the Almighty?” which David mentions in Psalm 91?
If this is true, isn’t it about time we found that shelter of perspective in His shadow? I like Hank’s perspective and am carrying his words with me as a reminder that we can find that heavenly place here on earth. Even during our crazy, frustrating days, there is a shelter. It all depends on where we look.
Perspective adds a breath of fresh air to the otherwise suffocating demands of life. – Charles Swindoll