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Chesterton on Perspective

A few months ago, I read a piece from G. K. Chesterton in The Illustrated London News. Chesterton’s article makes light of the daily inconveniences encountered in life by utilizing a poetic tone of adventure inspired by imagination. He exposes the reality of thinking with a wrong mindset, encourages readers towards a comical viewpoint, and guides readers to a foundation of faith in all circumstances.
Chesterton reveals the reality of a negative mindset too often occupied by so many individuals. He opens with the news of London flooding and categorizes the event as a typical inconvenience faced by humankind. Then he mentions the constant rush in finding an opportunity to grumble about such inconveniences. He exposes such grumbling as negativity. He explains the error of such a viewpoint when he states, "an adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered," Clearly he stands by the incorrect nature of a negative mindset.
Chesterton juxtaposes widespread pessimism and encourages readers to adopt an optimistic viewpoint on the daily inconveniences through humor. He presents positive perspectives for three inconveniences: waiting for a train, hat-hunting on a windy day, and a jammed drawer. Waiting in a railway station transports one “to be inside a cavern of wonder and a palace of poetical pleasures.” Hat-hunting makes one “a jolly huntsman pursuing a wild animal.” A jammed drawer becomes “tugging up a life-boat out of the sea.” With a simple perspective change, Chesterton transforms three daily inconveniences, which are so readily discussed with such distaste, into a world of wonder through imagination.
Chesterton subtly guides readers toward a foundation of faith. While his words never directly point to focusing on the Lord, his descriptions provoke thought in the heart of readers and cause one to question their faith. He destroys the daily complaints of inconveniences by presenting a purely positive perspective prompting readers to ask themselves, “Why do I make such a big deal out of such little matters?” Complaining implies a lack of faith. When one complains, they demonstrate self-focused behavior and a sense of hopelessness. Instead of focussing on daily difficulties, one has an opportunity to cling to the hope of victory in Christ. When threatened with the interruption of pessimistic thoughts, scripture guides hearts to the truth.
Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:57
Thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.
2 Corinthians 2:14
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
Romans 8:1-4
Chesterton contrasts a negative typical mindset, challenging readers to question their negativity. I challenge you further to adopt a perspective of hope. Cling to the wonderful power of God and the freedom He extends through salvation. Fight for an unshakable foundation of truth, never shattered by any circumstances.

Link to find G. K. Chesterton's On Running After One's Hat
(href="http://www.ciudadseva.com/sevacity/stories/en/chesterton/on_running_after_ones_hat.htm">On Running After One's Hat)

All my love,
Gennavieve

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