I wasn't thrilled with the election results. To say the least. And I don't think there's anything wrong with feeling upset, troubled, even a little depressed about the direction America seems to be going politically. But I don't think there's any reason to despair. Because at the end of the day, American politics in the 21st century is just a small piece of a much bigger world, and a tiny blip on the narrative of history. It's helpful to have a little bit of perspective. Christians, for example, should remind themselves that our God is sovereign and his purposes are and will be accomplished regardless of the laws and legalities of men. Furthermore, Christians should remind themselves that the church is and always will be (or should be) a stronger source of communal identity than our political party.
Putting things in perspective doesn't diminish the importance of politics or the significance of what happens in elections; it simply serves as a helpful corrective to our tendency to get wrapped up in matters that are (by comparison) narrow and fleeting.
I worry about what happens to people when they lose perspective. I worry about America today, which I see populated by many people who are perfectly satisfied to subsist on a diet of perspective-reinforcing media that confirms but never challenges what they already believe. I worry about people whose perspective is so small that they can only see the immediate benefits of what voting for such-and-such will do for themnow, while neglecting to think about the longterm impacts for their children and the world at large. I worry about the short-sightedness of a nation where political entrenchment is more important than preventing an imminent economic disaster. I fear for a people who are uninformed and uninterested in learning about what goes on in the rest of the world.
I think we would all be better off--and our world would be better off--if we were intentional about broadening our perspective a bit. And to that end, let me offer these seven suggestions for ways one can gain a healthier perspective:
1) Read. Read books, articles, poems, lyrics, anything. Read a lot. Read things that don't reinforce any of your already-established opinions but instead open up the world to you a bit more. Take advantage of the library.
2) Travel. If you are lucky enough to afford to do this, DO IT. Travel is, I think, one of the single-most significant ways that a person can broaden their perspective on the world and better understand their own provincial experience within it. I still remember how drastically my perspective on the world changed the first time I traveled abroad (doing a study abroad program in Southeast Asia).
3) Expand your movie-going horizons. Watch foreign films and documentaries. They can be amazingly engaging! There's nothing like cinema for opening up one's eyes to another part of the world, another culture, perspective or curiosity. If you'd like a recommendation, let me know!
4) Worship in new places. If you're a Christian I'm not saying ditch your home church and church hop. I'm just saying that it can be healthy to break out of your worship comfort zone. Worship in churches of various traditions. Visit a Messianic congregation, a Coptic Christian church, a Korean church. Get a sense for how wonderfully diverse is the body of Christ.
5) Get to know people different from you. If you're a conservative, befriend a liberal or two. If you're a Christian, befriend some non-Christians. Have spirited conversations with people who will challenge your beliefs. Make sure your network of friends is not homogenous (one single age group, one single ethnicity, one single religion) but is as diverse and yet as genuine as possible.
6) Go places and do things that make you uncomfortable. Serve the homeless on Skid Row. For a time, live somewhere where you're a minority. Ride the bus. Try foods that might sound disgusting to you. Shop at Wal-Mart. Go to the proverbial "other side of the tracks" on occasion. It will be good for you.
7. Pray. Ask God to bring people, ideas, perspectives, and experiences into your life that challenge the status quo and help you grow. Pray that you'll not be complacent and "satisfied" with where you are and what you know, but that you'll always want to explore further and understand more. That your primary aim will be to know the truth and be governed by the truth, and not just to have an easier life.