As we begin a new year, hopefully we can take time to reflect on how past events have shaped our lives. All of us have been changed ad how we look at our lives and the life around us
is always altered.
We all have a life lens that determines how we look at every aspect of our life. The focus of our lens is developed by our life experiences; all of the things that we have been a part of, all of the people that have come into our live; and all of the events that have happened around us impact who we are and how we see life. Our life lenses are also influenced by the spiritual practices that we take apart in while striving for God’s kingdom in this present time.
My own life lens has been developed by my upbringing by a single Mom growing up on the east side of Youngstown, Ohio. My first church community was Jerusalem Baptist church, which was made up of people of color who had come to Youngstown from the southern states to make a new and better life in the north.
My life lens was later influenced as I worked in a steel mill, went to college part time for eight years in order to earn my bachelor’s degree, married Judy, who was of the Catholic faith. Her death years later, after a long battle with cancer, caused my life lens to change radically. My many moves around the country as I worked for different insurance companies gave me more experiences. Then joining a Lutheran church and eventually going to a Lutheran seminary, and then marrying a Lutheran pastor, Shirley, continues to change my life lens.
I give my life experiences to encourage each of you to think about all of the events both large and small and all of the people that have come and gone into your lives; and reflect upon how all of these situations have gotten you to where you are today. Certainly, this past year has given us much to think about and process. We are who we are today because of what has happened to us in the past, and how we look at life through our life lenses has been formed by these experiences.
At this beginning of a new year, besides reflecting on the recent past, please also be encouraged to either begin or continue to enhance taking part in the practices of prayer, Bible study, and reflection. These habits will give your life lens the ability to see things from a spiritual aspect versus a worldly one. This may help you to better deal with the many and varied issues of life! Peace, Vernon T.
Copyright © 2026 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved
is always altered.
We all have a life lens that determines how we look at every aspect of our life. The focus of our lens is developed by our life experiences; all of the things that we have been a part of, all of the people that have come into our live; and all of the events that have happened around us impact who we are and how we see life. Our life lenses are also influenced by the spiritual practices that we take apart in while striving for God’s kingdom in this present time.
My own life lens has been developed by my upbringing by a single Mom growing up on the east side of Youngstown, Ohio. My first church community was Jerusalem Baptist church, which was made up of people of color who had come to Youngstown from the southern states to make a new and better life in the north.
My life lens was later influenced as I worked in a steel mill, went to college part time for eight years in order to earn my bachelor’s degree, married Judy, who was of the Catholic faith. Her death years later, after a long battle with cancer, caused my life lens to change radically. My many moves around the country as I worked for different insurance companies gave me more experiences. Then joining a Lutheran church and eventually going to a Lutheran seminary, and then marrying a Lutheran pastor, Shirley, continues to change my life lens.
I give my life experiences to encourage each of you to think about all of the events both large and small and all of the people that have come and gone into your lives; and reflect upon how all of these situations have gotten you to where you are today. Certainly, this past year has given us much to think about and process. We are who we are today because of what has happened to us in the past, and how we look at life through our life lenses has been formed by these experiences.
At this beginning of a new year, besides reflecting on the recent past, please also be encouraged to either begin or continue to enhance taking part in the practices of prayer, Bible study, and reflection. These habits will give your life lens the ability to see things from a spiritual aspect versus a worldly one. This may help you to better deal with the many and varied issues of life! Peace, Vernon T.
Copyright © 2026 Vernon T. Jones, All Rights Reserved
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