When I think of the word perspective I think of that scene in the 1991 movie, Hook. Remember that scene where Rufio draws the line in the sand? Essentially, by drawing a line in the sand he is creating an opportunity for perspective. Either you can choose to stay with me, Rufio, the new leader, or, you can choose to believe the lie that this fat family man in his forties is Peter Pan. What follows is a tender scene, where a young lost boy chooses to see Peter Pan behind all the glasses and wrinkles and fatherly chubbiness. It’s a matter of perspective. Did the young boy act on faith? A deeply rooted belief system? Or was he simply open to new discoveries? Was it his deep sense of adventure that magnetized his attraction the mid-life Pan the Man? Who knows.
But amidst the shabby exterior portrayed, this young boy was able to take a deeper look; and it resulted in hope, for everyone.
The issue of perspectives struck me this morning as I read an article from Treehugger.com. The Bad News of 2008 is also the Good News of 2008 – The writer paints a bleak picture of the reality we face today with the state of the economy, housing, auto industry, consumerism, and the environment. However, he couples these observations with a resounding hope that cries out to the rest of us lost boys (and girls) “There you are Peter!”
So, what do we do? Do we throw reality out the door? Dash it all, for I am an optimist through and through! Or do we quietly resign and withdraw accepting the poor state of affairs, pridefully pull up our bootstraps, red mohawk and all, “Pan is dead! I am the leader now!”
Straddle, I tell you, straddle!!!! Perspective must be dynamic, movable, even transient. Perspectives are supposed to take us places, not lock us up in a tower of self righteousness. This reminds me of Benjamin Zander and a talk he did for the TED conference a while back – The talk was on “One Buttock Playing” and he was speaking of playing the piano – getting off both your cheeks and letting the music move you – Watch the Video [inspiring!] Dynamic, movable, changing, developing, progressive.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – Throw a rope around the heart of life and ride it like a bull!
