As you reflect on the close of each day and consider the days’ findings, you may wonder if anything you did made an impact and moved you forward. Some days, you may find yourself in the same rut as the day before. It begs the questions, do you need to make a change or just view life through a different lens? This is where High-Low-Buffalo comes in—it’s time to refresh your perspective.
Whether our family is together for a day or an extended period of time, my daughter, Sarah, challenges us to share a High-Low-Buffalo.
The high represents the exciting and best part of your day with the low representing a disappointment or less than desired experience. The final part is your buffalo, or that random, unexpected blessing you experienced—a welcomed surprise. It is a fun and reflective way to close out your day. But, deciding what to share takes a good bit of consideration and intentionality. What you choose to be your High-Low-Buffalo is all determined by the perspective you choose to have as you reflect on your day.
Perspective is everything.
Positivity defers you from thoughts that send you into a downward spiral. It provides a strong mindset to override the negative talk you tell yourself. A positive Christian is a contagious Christian—one who draws deep joy from Christ to draw others to Him.
Living through this COVID 19 pandemic, you can most likely ramble off a lot of lows, but if you look deeper you can find the highs and some really great buffalos. I think we all can agree that each time we enter a new year, we have no idea what it will hold, but 2020 took the cake on surprises. Never did we expect the reality of 2020. Some were paralyzed by the seclusion, while others were energized. No matter where you found yourself, life looked different and we all seemed to be on a leveled playing field. It was an unprecedented time that required an unprecedented response. A time to get creative or remain in disappointment. Each day, the perspective we choose to have greatly impacts our heart and therefore our actions. Ultimately, the choice is yours. Yes, no one can make this decision for you, but you!
For me, 2020 left me missing the face-to-face gathering of women, speaking at live events, hugging friends and family, and people-filled holidays. But as I reflect specifically on the last eighteen months of More of Him Ministries, I see my buffalo. This ministry has unexpectedly expanded, stretching me beyond what I thought I could do. Although we may not know when things may feel “normal” again, this life experience has left an impact on each of our lives. Regardless of what that may look like, we can continue to fulfill God’s call and move forward in His strength. We must continue to move forward!
It’s all in your perspective.
Your high will be different from my high, but it will, most likely, be the best part of your day or your week. Some of your highs will transfer into life-changing, memorable moments that will impact your life and those around you. Mark Batterson, in his book, Win the Day:7 Daily Habits to Help You Stress Less & Accomplish More, made this statement, “Time is measured in minutes; Life is measured in moments.” This is pure truth. It’s the small moments that link your days, months, and years together to create your timeline.
There are days we don’t feel that our actions make much of a difference, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s in the ordinary that God uses you for extraordinary opportunities. It may not be the timing you hoped for, but God’s timing is perfect. When you’re obedient in the small things God requires from you, He will build upon each action to create the destiny He has marked out for you. And, our ability to walk in this obedience all begins with our mindset. What perspective will you choose?
Looking back over my fifty plus years, I have seen God’s hand upon every step I took to bring me right where I am today. Maybe you are in the season of:
- Wiping little faces or reading the same children’s book for the millionth time.
- Serving in a ministry you thought would look different.
- Working in an unfulfilling job.
- Battling a disease and fighting for your life.
- Mourning the loss of what were once dear friendships.
No matter where you find yourself, if your perspective can be one grounded in, I want to be obedient to the Lord and become more like Him, God will use each moment, day, and opportunity to build upon the next and reveal Himself to you in ways far above and beyond what you could imagine.
May our heart’s prayer be. . .God you are great and there is none like you! Nothing or no one can compare to you. Nothing that we have heard with our ears or seen with our own eyes can stand in comparison to you. Therefore you are great and greatly to be praised!
Recently while reading John Gordon’s book, The Shark and the Goldfish, this statement hit me like a ton of bricks—”If you think your best days are behind you, they are. If you think your best days are ahead of you, they are.”
Talk about perspective!
Prior to reading this statement I was longing for the days of the past in ministry and missing what was. I thought, if we could just go back. . .Yes, it feels like the past was wonderful, but what if He has something new and exciting around the corner? Am I ready to have a new perspective that God holds my days and works for my good?
What perspective will you choose as you move forward in obedience?
No matter what you are facing, He wants to be at the center of it all. He wants to be your guiding light. Your deepest longing and brightest reflection. He wants to be the high in your day!
“Those who look to Him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.” Psalm 34:5 (NLT)
Journeying with Him,