Carlos Whittaker

Jul13

Perspective

I jumped off a bridge today.
But it’s all about perspective isn’t it?
In the first pic I’m just a chubby Mexican with his flip flops in his hands.
In the second pic I’m just a chubby Mexican with his flip flop in his hands jumping from 5 stories.
In the third pic nobody cares about the chubby Mexican with his flip flops in his hands because the landscape is so amazing.
Let me tell you something.
The crap that was almost in my pants from jumping off that bridge was real, but so is your perspective.
And let me tell you something else…
The truth about who you are or the church that you have is real…
But so is everybody’s perspective.

So keep jumping…all the while knowing that no one else may think it’s a big deal.
It’s better that way.
Los

http://www.whatsthisphotofor.com Toby

It’s all about the splash right?

http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com loswhit

Amen

http://jackschull.com Jack

Impressive. Now, how long did you linger at the top? I’ve jumped 30 ft into water – which was way cool. But admittedly lingered for a little longer than was necessary. Keep splashing.

http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com los

I shall. You too.

http://rmfo-blogs.com/sillyjoe SillyJoe

I think that moment when you come back up for air is pretty great, too.
http://www.reflectionofgrace.wordpress.com Brandi

this post is TOO good. thanks for getting my brain going at 3am. (and by thanks i mean ill probably be cussing you when my alarm goes off in 4.5 hours.. )

http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com los

http://andrewedwards.wordpress.com Ed from Aus

So THAT’s what was in your hand! I couldn’t tell they were flip flops – looked like something with tassels on it (from my perspective anyway )

Great post, thanks for reminding us that other people’s views are just as valid as our own and we need to listen and respect that.

Good job on taking the ‘plunge’!

Wish it was summer here instead of freezing and raining… ahh well least there’s no snow

http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com los

cheers! To snow!!!

http://www.lindsey7607.blogspot.com Lindsey Harts

Ah, you’re getting me thinking.

http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com los

Think Think Think

http://www.mohan37.com mo

Pretty much everything worth doing leads to a near-pant-crap, I suspect. Thanks for the inspiring post this morning

http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com los

That is the quote of the day…
“Pretty much everything worth doing leads to a near-pant-crap, I suspect. “

http://www.mohan37.com mo

I’m honored

http://gbrenna.com Graham

Oh man! That is fantastic!
L

Thats AWESOME… thats a quote I will keep around a while!

http://www.BryanPerson.com Bryan Person

What a way to fire me up for the day, Carlos. Thanks for sharing! And curious: What’s the bridge? And finally: Next time you’re bungee jumping, right?

http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com los

Bungee Jumping is for pansies…

And we are at Shasta Lake in Northern Cali.

http://www.BryanPerson.com Bryan Person

Guess that means you haven’t done it either, huh?

http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com los

I did it once and it hurt too bad to do it again. My spine hated me.

Christina

Another awesome blog. you always seem to get the mind going, love reading your blog

http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com los

Thanks Christina. Thanks for sticking around a bunch of Ragamuffins.

http://gbrenna.com Graham

Great post to start the day! Thanks for continually putting life in perspective for me. You have no idea how much your posts have helped me through some junk.

and that looks like some serious fun right there!

http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com los

Junk is no fun…

Jeremy Campbell

thats pretty awesome!!
I thought in the first pic it looked like a sewer drainage pipe or something so my perspective at first wasn’t a good one lol. but thats a pretty awesome picture

http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com los

That would be awesome. Jumping into a sewer!!!

http://finallyhuman.com Ian

Third picture: Are you even in it?

It’s funny how perspective changes the significance of a situation. From one point of view, you’re the centre. From another you’re not even visible.

How do we help people see the world from the perspective where God is the most significant aspect?

http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com los

So true. And no. I’m not in the third picture. I’m jumping off but to the left. So you can’t even see my amazing feat!!! But at that point who cares!!! The scenery outdoes anything I could ever do!!!
Perspective.

http://www.facebook.com/tonychavez1 tony chavez

Interesting that the third one doesn’t have you in it. Maybe that’s how we can get people to see God as the most significant aspect. Remove ourselves, our selfish ambitions and agendas. And just be used as empty vessles for Him to flow through. I think sometimes we place ourselves in the way, and it makes it hard for people to see Him clearly.

http://scottgould.me Scott Gould

Congrats man!

http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com los

JUMP!!!

http://www.dlake108.posterous.com D.Lake

I had Van Halen as the soundtrack as I looked at the pics. Nice camera … Dang! that’s clear.

Bill

I had Kriss Kross in my head – Jump, Jump http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cN8WeadBW1o Los Whit ‘ill make ‘ya “Jump, Jump”
http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com los

D300 baby

http://www.firefliesandhummingbirds.net Chrissy

“So keep jumping…all the while knowing that no one else may think it’s a big deal. It’s better that way.”

Wow. I like that! And I needed to hear it today.

Thanks, Los. Keep jumping!
http://thepewview.com Milan Ford

Hands down, best Ragamuffinsoul.com post ever!

http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com los

Thanks Milan. Sometimes the best are the small posts huh?

http://jskogerboe.com Joshua Skogerboe

SO SO GOOD. I love the reminder to take risks and GO FOR IT, whether or not the world does the collective gasp we would love to hear.

Way to man up, by the way. I got the quivers jumping 16 feet into the Mississippi in Northern MN over the Fourth. This drop you are displaying… yikes. I am not worthy.

http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com los

Neither was I. It honestly was one of the scariest things I had ever done. But you know the scariest part? It was climbing over the rail just to get in position. That was the scariest part.

http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com Kyle Reed

It reminds me of a wishing well. Weird that I would pull that comparison. But I always wonder what the story is behind each coin that is in a wishing well?
Maybe people throw the coins in for fun or as a joke, but there is that person that is seriously at the end hoping that anything will help them with their wish.
I always wonder what they are hoping for, what their story is, and where they are at when they throw their coin in.

I guess behind each jump, splash, or coin is a story that is developing and maybe we need to have some new perspective to see them all.

http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com los

OK. That’s a documentary…
Film that junk…

http://ekissa.blogspot.com Kirsten

Awesome!
http://rantsofabeggar.com Adam

Love it man. Just had a convo about this last night. No, not about chubby mexicans jumping off bridges.. but to your point about peoples perspective of “church”
The problem with vision or perspective is that we need to constantly be reminded of why we are. We are only the “church” when we recognize Christ and His desire above our own.

http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com los

Great thoughts…
WHY we are is the real question…

Pingback: We’ve All Got Junk | Graham Brenna
http://www.jennyrain.com Jenny

I would totally tee-tee my pants too Los. I have butterflies in my stomach just looking at the drop… eeee!

Thanks for the reminder today… I’m pondering Joshua 3 (crossing the Jordan) in the middle of a potential Jordinian crossing in the next few weeks, so this is an awesome reminder.

Even if it does make me feel like I have to run go throw up – aaaaaarrrghhh!

http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com los

Just make sure that you have someone with you when you cross!!!

http://richardmpotter.wordpress.com/ Richard

I put my daughter on a plane to South Africa this morning. That felt kind of like jumping off a bridge. A really, really big bridge. Like, so big that I won’t land until she returns on July 25.

http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com los

That is a long drop…Keep us updated!!!

http://www.fishbowlmama.com Jen C

My husband and I just jumped. We’re totally in mid air and I’m loving the wind blowing against my face feeling!

I think there’s a reason the greek word Spirit is connected to the word wind.

Great post, Los.

http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com los

I think there is a reason as well…

http://www.worshiplikecrazy.blogspot.com lester

Dude, just went through a season here as a worship pastor in which I was doing things trying to please everyone’s opinion about what our worship experience should be and listened to opinions of others “perspective” of what my issues were and my problems were when they had no clue at all… But me thinking they were people I should respect the opinion of, I started doubting the vision GOD had given me… So GOD told me He is my inspiration and my source of direction and no one else… He reminded my that “Perception” is not king cause the pharisees had perceptions of who they thought the Messiah should be and what He should do… Quite obviously, they were wrong!!!

http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com los

Great stuff. I agree… Just keep jumping when he says jump!

Reggie

Dude, you’re mexican?

Great post!
http://www.ricianne.com patricia

ur crazy. LOL

where is this bridge so that i can jump off it too?
Kevin H

Another thought about perspective…when you’re the one in the middle of a “jump” things can seem so much bigger than from the viewpoint of someone on the outside.

To that point, picture 2 looks more like it’s only about 2 or 2-1/2 stories not 5 from where you would climb over the railing from the surface of the road. Perhaps the jump looked much higher to you??
TC

AWESOME photos. And for what it’s worth, you look less “chubby” with your shirt off!

With that being said, I can’t agree with this statement:

“The truth about who you are or the church that you have is real… But so is everybody’s perspective.”

Everybody’s truth isn’t real. Someone is wrong. Relativism is never right.

http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com los

IT’s real to them…
Which makes it as real as your reality…

TC

Just cause I think something is real doesn’t make it real.

http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com los

It’s real to you.

http://jbstansel.wordpress.com Jason Stansel

I don’t think Los was talking about moral issues. I think that’s the difference. Sometimes, like in the pictures he posted, everyone’s perspective is right! Just different.
TC

Real wrong! LOL.

I just think it’s dangerous and even opposite of God’s plan to tell everyone that their view point is right and that what they see is correct and true and the complete picture.

If that’s the case, what are you doing in ministry?

Mya

Do not lean on your own understanding folks … Prov 3:5

http://www.jakeschwein.com Jake Schwein

Perspective…totally! If I could have one relational super power I would ask for something where I could see, feel, and live in people’s perspective … this would be hard, humbling, but would be amazing. i think Jesus understood other people’s perspectives amazingly well…
http://www.mycreditscore.com Ashley

Very interesting way to make that point, but it was well taken! Thanks Los! This applies to my life so much. I get so down when my loved ones don’t share my excitement about something (they live very far away), but it’s still very real to me.
Boomer

Hey Muffin Man, are you still preparing to move to Chicago with Soul City Church? I thought a while back you said you were but maybe I misunderstood.
http://www.POTSC.com mike foster

LOVE IT! thats so awesome Los and a great challenge!
http://www.ToddVaters.com Todd Vaters

Good word. Perhaps the fact that no one else may think it’s a big deal can take some of the pressure off. Just do it for the joy of jumping. Jump for joy!!!!!!!!!! (sorry, it just came to me but I think it’s true)
http://clayharryman.wordpress.com Clay Harryman

First thing I thought was “Who’s chasing Los this time”?

But I like the thought. I didn’t jump. I was pushed. Laid off from my job. And for the first time, I’m not afraid. God has something great in store for me, and I’m chompin’ at the bit to get into it. I’m not sure what it is yet, but I’m ready and rarin’ ta go.
http://sunnysblog.typepad.com sunny

Love this! Your version is the modern-day fresh take on my dad’s statements years ago. I was a PK/MK “double trouble” (pastor’s kid/missionary’s kid).

During my dad’s slideshow (mid 1970s), he’d show a photo of my mom sitting at the Korean north/south border and she was smiling all happy in spite of a North Korean guard standing unsmilingly behind her.

My dad would ask the congregation, “This is my wife. Why do you think she is smiling?” No one could figure out why.

Then he’d show the next slide: a tall, blonde U.S. guard standing over the North Korean guard standing over my mom. So my mom COULD smile, knowing she was being protected and cared for.

Good reminder, Los. I need that right now as my dad’s been gone 24 years now…and I sometimes slip into a “poor me” perspective instead of a HOLY COW – my GOD is all POWERFUL perspective.
http://twitter.com/jasoncaine1 jpcaine

Man this is great! Not that my perspective matters but you are the #1 tweeter/blogger in the universe