When your paradigm shifts...

In his book 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People, Steven Covey describes our stereotypical responses to situations based on past experiences. Do you remember the stories that he told us to explain the paradigm shift. My favorite story on seeing things differently is the cookie story. So for those of you who dont remember the story here we go:

Change Your Point of View.. Joe Gracia ---

Imagine you're in London's Heathrow Airport. While you're waiting for your
flight, you notice a kiosk selling shortbread cookies. You buy a box, put
them in your traveling bag and then you patiently search for an available
seat so you can sit down and enjoy your cookies.Finally you find a seat next
to a gentleman. You reach down into your traveling bag and pull out your box
of shortbread cookies.

As you do so, you notice that the gentleman starts watching you intensely.
He stares as you open the box and his eyes follow your hand as you pick up
the cookie and bring it to your mouth. Just then he reaches over and takes
one of your cookies from the box, and eats it! You're more than a little
surprised at this. Actually, you're at a loss for words. Not only does he
take one cookie, but he alternates with you. For every one cookie you take,
he takes one.

Now, what's your immediate impression of this guy? Crazy? Greedy? He's got
some nerve?! Can you imagine the words you might use to describe this man
to your associates back at the office? Meanwhile, you both continue eating
the cookies until there's just one left. To your surprise, the man reaches
over and takes it. But then he does something unexpected. He breaks it in
half, and gives half to you. After he's finished with his half he gets up,
and without a word, he leaves.


You think to yourself, "Did this really happen?" You're left sitting there
dumbfounded and still hungry. So you go back to the kiosk and buy another
box of cookies. You then return to your seat and begin opening your new box
of cookies when you glance down into your traveling bag. Sitting there in
your bag is your original box of cookies -- still unopened.

Only then do you realize that when you reached down earlier, you had reached
into the other man's bag, and grabbed his box of cookies by mistake. Now
what do you think of the man? Generous? Tolerant? You've just experienced a
profound paradigm shift. You're seeing things from a new point of view.

Is it time to change your point of view?

Now, think of this story as it relates to your life. Seeing things from a new point of view can be very enlightening.

I was thinking, ever so often I judged and criticized people for not wearing the Christian outfit I wear. So the things I do right becomes the parameter for the rest of the world. You know how JESUS was not impressed about us comparing ourselves with ourselves. And everyday I realize that at the foot of the Cross we all stand on even ground.

Last week I myself using my finite wisdom and knowledge of a particular situation judged and criticized atleast 11 different people. By the end of the week I was just so sick and tired of playing judge! And what's worse is that I was all wrong or half wrong or never mind!!!  Being a judge is so demanding that I want The JUDGE to be the JUDGE. I dont want to be a part of it, I dont want to assume, criticize, justify, react or repond... I just want to be right before GOD and only that matters.

And this can happen only when GOD makes your paradigm shift....