In our daily world, most of us have become use to seeing the same ole visual images caped in different clothing:

• The same tribal office work colleagues in dressed different apparel
• The same neighborhood that transitions in different seasons of the year
• The same apparel of clothing we have in our closet, but we mix and match them according to the weather
• The same usual routes we drive around our neighborhoods, yet we may drive different streets when road construction impedes our way
• The same summer visits with family and friends
• The same summer vacation destinations

Yet very few of us will desire frequent changes in life.  I heard a church sermon some years ago and the topic was “Do You want to be a Pioneer or a Settler?”  Here are some key highlights I remember from this sermon:

• Pioneers are pacesetters; they pave the way for others and find themselves often exploring new territories
• Settlers’ mission are to reach a point and stay at the place forever

Early in my adult life, I once had the belief that I would “settle down” and: (1) earn a formal education; (2) become satisfied with a level of wealth; (3) get married and have children; (4) work a traditional 8 to 5 job with benefits and meager vacation days.  I accomplished at least three of the above four ‘settled’ objectives.

But later in my life, I always wanted something much better.  I didn’t know exactly what it was specifically, but I always attempted to stretch my view….my mental view that is.

Stretching your mental view causes you to:

• Think harder
• React faster/often to issues stirring in your heart
• Question or Challenge the Status Quo
• Pray even more
• Question the law of humanity
• Have a sense of understanding the world a little bit better

Traveling around the world excites me, especially when wanting to meet new people!  Having simple conversations with others allow me to become better as a listener.  The sound waves and pitch patterns of various human voices echoing through my ear canal creates a hunger for knowledge and understanding.

I believe the opposite of ‘not’ wanting to stretch your mental view can lead to:

• Stagnation
• An unwillingness to learn, which can close your mind to an ever changing world
• Isolation
• Being Argumentative

Because I have such a passion for making a different in my world, I found several ways to “Stretch My View”

Let’s go people and do some good!