CLEAR

January Challenge: The Iceberg

Posted on: December 27, 2009 by Diane No Comments

Starting in January, and each month through 2010, I am challenging myself - and you - to address some perspectives, prejudices, misunderstandings, or just nasty habits that I’ve acquired over the year. The goal is to learn and observe, and, possibly, change my perspectives and my habits!

So, if you dare, here’s the January Challenge…

Most of an iceberg is under the water, below the surface. Most of an iceberg can’t be seen. There is no way to tell how deep or wide or jagged or damaged or solid it is just by looking at what’s on top of the water.

So, the Challenge for January…to see everyone as an Iceberg. Before I judge, dismiss, ignore, presume. Everyone I see - everyone I interact with - everyone I talk to, wave to, see from afar - everyone. Look at them as if they are an iceberg. Look at them with the absolute assurance that what I see is so little compared to what really makes up this person.

And then…be Curious. Take the time to stop thinking about myself and my well-intentioned or, more often, ill-conceived standards that I use to calculate the person’s near miss, or total miss. Instead, throw out the measureing stick. Toss the self-imposed standards.  Take the time to be curious about who that person is. What lies below the surface. The hurts, the successes, the fears, the worries, the joy, the sadness. What lies under the surface that supports what you see. Maybe that curiousity will lead to conversation; maybe only to a prayer extended on that person’s behalf.

For instance…

Why not pray that the woman who is painstakingly counting out the change from the bottom of her purse to pay for her coffee will not feel my irritation, but feel the presence of God at some time that day.

Why not ask the man at work who is constantly backstabbing your efforts,  ask how the holidays were for him, what Santa brought him, what he did with his time off.

Change your mind from judging on sight, to seeking what’s real. Being curious about what lies below the surface. To the part of the person that God knows so well, and that we rarely take the time to uncover.

See everyone as an iceberg - and be curious about what lies below the surface.

Seems easy enough, right? I’ll let you know on February 1st what I found out - about others and myself.  I challenge you to do the same!!