Perception

My siblings and I were so excited because one of us who drew the “lucky” number out of a hat would accompany our father on a hot air balloon ride the next morning in honor of Father’s Day. One of my sisters drew the number and we made plans to meet at the launching field in Southwest Denver the next morning to celebrate the take-off. 

The sister who had won, who has always been an actress, showed up on crutches, complaining of a sprained ankle, and insisted I go in her place. We all knew she was feigning this ankle injury but, for whatever reason, nothing could change her mind about my going in her place.

So up, up, up we went… My Dad’s only complaint was that his height made it difficult to escape the heat from the burner above his head. We had only just risen to a place far above the ground when suddenly it was as if we were ripped from the sky and thrown to the hard earth, tossing and turning, tumbling and bouncing – my Dad and I encircled in each other’s arms, trying to protect the other from the repeated beating the basket was taking as it rolled around and ricocheted uncontrollably, finally coming to rest on its side on a hill, the pilot sprawled across my Dad and me; the torn balloon looped frivolously through a barbed wire fence.

Shocked and shaken, we slowly emerged from the basket, bruised and sore but conscious and alert. Our pilot offered no explanation except that the balloon must have hit a windshear. As we scanned the landscape a good distance below, we realized we had landed on someone’s property. After awhile, we could see the crash team gathering, and we were confident they would be arriving soon to help transport us out of the area. Since cellphones hadn’t been invented yet, we were left to make our own assumptions, and were dumbfounded that none of our family members nor any of the crash team was making any effort to come towards us. We could only watch as the crowd below remained stationary. This standstill continued for far more than an hour, and my Dad and I became increasingly frustrated. So, we decided we needed to try to make our way down the hill. Though injured, he half-carried me through the long grasses and we finally reached the bottom, where we saw the property owner standing on her porch, aiming a rifle at the crowd, keeping them from entering her property.

Bridge

This one incident created multiple misperceptions. What Dad and I had perceived as the crash team’s apathy and indifference was clearly misinterpreted. After limping down the long hill with no one running to meet us, we were further aggravated, until we reached the bottom and saw the rifle-toting landowner. When we were finally face-to-face with our family members, we learned no one could see us until we were spotted coming down the hill. And the property owner didn’t know that my Dad and I were just two innocent people who had purchased a ride on a hot air balloon.

To add to those misperceptions, our pilot, who was eerily quiet while we were on the hill, had been terrified the entire time. Not knowing her very well, my Dad and I thought she was merely shaken up and embarrassed. But, we learned later that she was unlicensed and the balloon was in what is called a “red zone,” where hot air balloons are strictly prohibited. Had a member of the crash team attempted a rescue, the property owner would have been within her rights to fire the gun she’d held on them for hours. Not only had the novice pilot ruined her boyfriend’s $8000 balloon, she was fully responsible for endangering the lives of two people, and knew the legal ramifications that faced her for flying in a red zone. It was also not lost on us that she might have been a little worried that my Dad and I could file a lawsuit against her.

Blesson

Assumptions. Misconceptions. Misperceptions. The latter is defined as a mistaken belief, idea or interpretation about something. The former two could be described much the same way. We text someone and they don’t immediately respond, so we figure they’re ignoring us or angry with us or some other reason we conjure up. We see our spouse hugging someone and our feelings drive us to envision numerous innuendoes. Our boss wants to meet with us at a time when we’re feeling especially vulnerable, and we wonder if we’re being terminated. These and a myriad of other scenarios can cause misperception. 

Without a periscope, we can’t see what’s coming around the corner; likewise, our perception is limited when we’re not privy to what’s transpiring beyond our purview. The tendency to jump to conclusions or create our own interpretations when we’ve limited information can devour common sense, positivity, and sensibility. It’s Satan’s way of keeping us out of balance, suspicious, and untrusting. And these negativities can harvest a host of unpleasant consequences.

Thankfully, there is someone who sees the whole picture…and far before we are ever a part of it. And we’ll stay balanced, certain, and trusting if we turn to our Father in Heaven when we’re seeing only part of the picture from our limited vantage point.

Substance

We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us! (1 Cor. 13:12, The Message)

If you want favor with both God and man, and a reputation for good judgment and common sense, then trust the Lord completely; don’t ever trust yourself. (Proverbs 3:4-5, TLB)

See more and subscribe to receive weekly blog posts at OneMoreBlesson.com.