Returning to Our Roots — and Seeing with New Eyes
Change is Necessary, Perspective is Essential
Some of you might know this: I grew up in Tucson, Arizona, about 50 miles north of the Mexican border.
Years later, early in our marriage, Colleen and I visited my hometown. It had been about 15 years since I left. We drove past the house where I grew up, the school I went to, and the neighborhoods I used to explore.
We slowed down as we passed each familiar place, letting the memories come alive. I remember climbing the musket tree in our yard, building forts out of tumbleweeds, and hunting for horned lizards. I could see my younger self playing football in the desert, feeling ten feet tall when the older boys picked me for their team.
But as I looked around, I realized — everything seemed smaller now. My childhood home, once huge in my eyes, was actually tiny. The vast desert felt like a narrow strip of land.
That trip taught me two important truths:
Change is essential - If my parents hadn’t made the tough decision to move, my life would be completely different. Growth always calls for change.
Perspective is crucial - Back then, life felt confusing and overwhelming. But looking back 15 years later, I saw it differently - because I was different.
No matter how tough life seems right now, your perspective will shift over time because you will change.
Call to Action: Recall a place from your past. How has your perspective changed over time? Write down one lesson you've learned from reflecting back — and ask God how it applies to your walk with Him today.